18 MARCH 2023

Topic 1: Pennaiyar tribunal

Context: The time limit fixed by the Supreme Court for the constitution of an inter-State river water disputes tribunal for Pennaiyar river expired and Tamil Nadu is waiting for the Centre’s next course of action.

Key details:

• The dispute:
  • In 2018, Tamil Nadu filed an original suit against Karnataka constructing check-dams and diversionary structures on the river.
  • In 2019, Tamil Nadu formally requested the Union government to constitute a tribunal for adjudication of disputes over the waters of the river, also known as ‘Thenpennai’.
  • Tamil Nadu objected to the construction of a check-dam across the Markandeya, a tributary of the Pennaiyar, by Karnataka.
• About the river:
  • This is the second longest river in Tamil Nadu after the Kaveri.
  • The river originates in the Nandi Hills in the Chikkaballapura district of Karnataka.
  • It flows through Tamil Nadu before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
  • It’s catchment area is located in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Related Constitutional Provisions

• Entry 17 under State List:
  • This entry deals with water i.e. water supply, irrigation, canal, drainage, embankments, water storage and water power.
• Entry 56 under Union List:
  • It empowers the Union Government for the regulation and development of inter-state rivers and river valleys to the extent declared by Parliament to be expedient in the public interest.

• Article 262:
  • In case of disputes relating to waters Parliament may by law provide:
    • For the adjudication of any dispute or complaint with respect to the use, distribution or control of the waters of, or in, any inter-State river or river valley.
    • That neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall exercise jurisdiction in respect of any such dispute or complaint as mentioned above.
• Legislations as per Article 262: 
  • River Board Act, 1956:
    • The Act empowers the Central Government to establish boards for Interstate Rivers and river valleys in consultation with State Governments.
  • Inter-State Water Dispute Act, 1956:
    • When any state government approach the Central Government for the constitution of the Tribunal, the Centre may form a Tribunal after trying to resolve the dispute through consultations.
    • Supreme Court shall not question the decision of the Tribunal but it can question the working of the Tribunal.  
• Composition of Tribunal:
  • Chief Justice of India
  • Sitting Judge from Supreme Court
  • Two other Judges either from Supreme Court or High Court

Provisions under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956:

• The Tribunal has to be constituted within a year of getting the request.
• Tribunal must give the award within 3 years.
  • Two more years can be given in certain situations.
• The Tribunal award is not immediately implemented and the concerned parties may seek clarification within 3 months of the award.
• Tribunal Awards will have the same force as the order or decree of the Supreme Court.
• The award is beyond the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and will be considered final.

List of Inter-State River Tribunals:

Tribunal	Year	Concerned States
Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal	1969	Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Orissa
Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-I	1969	Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka
Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal	1969	Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat
Ravi and Beas Water Tribunal	1986	Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan
Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal	1990	Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry
Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II	2004	Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka
Vansadhara Water Disputes Tribunal	2010	Andhra Pradesh and Odisha
Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal	2010	Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra
Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal	2018	Chhattisgarh and Odisha

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Topic 2: Unnathi programme

Context: The President of India recently launched Unnathi programme.

Key details:

• The President inaugurated the silver jubilee celebration of ‘Kudumbashree’ – one of the largest women’s self-help networks in the world.
• She also launched ‘Unnathi’ Programme.
  • It is an umbrella programme to create opportunities for employment and self-employment, among the youth belonging to SC and ST communities.

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Topic 3: PM MITRA mega textile parks

Context: The Prime Minister of India has informed that PM MITRA mega textile parks would be set up in some states which will boost the textiles sector in line with 5F (Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign) vision.

About the scheme:

• Launched by:
  • Ministry of Textiles78
• Aim:
  • The PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel Parks (MITRAs) Scheme aims to strengthen the Indian textile industry by way of:
    • enabling scale of operations,
    • reduce logistics cost by housing entire value chain at one location,
    • attract investment,
    • generate employment and
    • augment export potential.

• Location:
  • These parks are envisaged to be located at sites which have inherent strengths for textile industry to flourish and have necessary linkages to succeed. 
• Other details:
  • The scheme envisages to leverage Public Private Partnership model for fast paced implementation in a time-bound manner.
  • The scheme will develop integrated large scale and modern industrial infrastructure facility for total value-chain of the textile industry.
• Funding:
  • For the development of common infrastructure the centre will provide:
    • Rs.500 crore for each greenfield MITRA park and
    • upto Rs 200 crore for each brownfield park.
  • Rs 300 crore will be provided additionally as Competitiveness Incentive Support for the early establishment of textiles manufacturing units in each of these parks.
  • Setting up of anchor plants that employ at least 100 people will fetch incentives of upto Rs 10 crore every year for upto three years.

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Topic 4: Rajasthan Advocates Protection Bill, 2023

Context: The Rajasthan government tabled the Rajasthan Advocates Protection Bill, 2023 in the state legislative Assembly.

Key provisions:

• Aims:
  • The Bill provides for the prevention of offenses against advocates, such as assault, grievous hurt, criminal force and criminal intimidation, along with damage or loss to their property.
  • The objective of the Bill is to prohibit increasing “violence” and “false implications” against advocates in the state.
  • The Act also deems these offenses as cognizable, indicating that arrests can be made without a warrant.
• Police protection:
  • The Bill aims to provide police protection to an advocate, based on a report made to the police, for the commission of offenses against him.
  • However, protection can only be given if the police deem it fit, and in a manner as prescribed in the rules.
  • The Rajasthan Advocates Protection Bill, 2023, extends to advocates in the State of Rajasthan.
• Punishment:
  • Punishment ranges from fines to imprisonment or both depending on the degree of offenses committed.
  • Every offence punishable under this Act shall be compoundable by the aggrieved person with the permission of the Court.
    • Compoundable offenses are those which can be conciliated by the parties under dispute, without requiring the permission of the court.

• Provisions for compensation and damages
  • The Bill seeks to provide compensation to advocates.
  • The offender shall also be liable to pay for the loss or damage caused to an advocate’s property, as may be determined by the court.
  • The offender will also be liable to reimburse the medical expenses incurred by an advocate.
• Prosecution of the advocates:
  • The Bill provides for the prosecution of advocates themselves if a report of cognizable offense is received from their client or opposing client against an act done by the advocate, during the discharge of their professional duties.
  • The complaint may be registered only after an inquiry has been conducted by a police officer.
  • If an advocate misuses the provisions of this Act or uses them for malicious purposes or makes a false complaint under the Act, they can face imprisonment for up to 3 years, with or without a fine.

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Topic 5: herSTART platform

Context: herSTART platform to encourage women entrepreneurs inaugurated recently

Key details:

• The ‘herSTART’ platform will boost innovation and start-up efforts of women entrepreneurs and also help them connect with various government and private enterprises.
• The platform will include:
  • a digital platform to provide resources and training modules free of cost to aspiring women entrepreneurs,
  • a digital community for them, and
  • a digital publication to spread their success stories.

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Topic 6: International Criminal Court

Context: The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for war crimes for Russian  President.

Key details:

• The court says Putin bears individual criminal responsibility for the abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
• Russia has defended the transfers on humanitarian grounds.
   

What is the International Criminal Court?

• The International Criminal Court is an intergovernmental organization and international tribunal.
• It is the first and only permanent international court with jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.
• The International Criminal Court was created as a standing body to investigate war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute of 1998.
• The court has no power to arrest sitting heads of state or bring them to trial, and instead must rely on other leaders and governments to act.
• A suspect who manages to evade capture may never have a hearing to confirm the charges.
• Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands.
• Structure
  • The ICC is governed by the Assembly of States Parties, which is made up of the states that are party to the Rome Statute.
  • The Court is composed of four organs:
    • the Presidency,
    • the Judicial Divisions,
    • the Office of the Prosecutor,
    • the Registry.

• Finance:
  • The ICC is financed by contributions from the states parties.
  • Each state’s contribution is based on the country’s capacity to pay.
• Comparison with International Court of Justice:
  • Unlike the International Court of Justice, the ICC is legally independent from the United Nations.
  • However, the Rome Statute grants certain powers to the United Nations Security Council, which limits its functional independence.
• ICC and India:
  • India and China neither signed nor acceded to the Rome Statute
     

The Rome StatuteThe Rome Statute is the treaty that established the International Criminal Court (ICC).It was adopted in 1998 and it entered into force in 2002.The Rome Statute established four core international crimes:genocide,crimes against humanity,war crimes,the crime of aggression.According to the Rome Statute, it is the duty of every State to exercise its criminal jurisdiction over those responsible for international crimes.The International Criminal Court can only intervene where a State is unable or unwilling to genuinely carry out the investigation and prosecute the perpetrators.

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Topic 7: Privilege Motion

Context: Congress moves privilege motion against Prime Minister

What is parliamentary privilege?

• Parliamentary privileges are certain rights and immunities enjoyed by members of Parliament, individually and collectively.
• Without these they cannot discharge their functions efficiently and effectively.
• When any of these rights and immunities are disregarded, the offence is called a breach of privilege and is punishable under law of Parliament.
• A notice is moved in the form of a motion by any member of either House against those being held guilty of breach of privilege.
• Each House also claims the right to punish as contempt actions which, while not breach of any specific privilege, are offences against its authority and dignity.
• Parliamentary privilege involves:
  • the right of a member to speak freely in the House.
  • immunity to a member from any proceedings in any court in respect of anything said or any vote given by her/him in Parliament or on any of its committees.
  • exemption from proceedings in any court in respect of the publication by or under the authority of either House of Parliament of any report, paper, etc.
  • courts are prohibited from inquiring into its proceedings.
  • freedom from arrest of members in civil cases during the continuance of the session of the House and 40 days before its commencement and 40 days after its conclusion.
    • This freedom from arrest does not cover preventive arrest or detention under statutory authority by executive order and in criminal cases.

What is breach of privilege?

• Action by any individual or body to disregard or attack any of the privileges, rights and immunities either of the members individually or of the House in its collective capacity is called a breach of privilege and is punishable by the House.
• It is the House itself that decides as to what constitutes a breach of privilege.
• The penal jurisdiction of the House in this regard covers its members as well as strangers.
• Besides breach of privilege, a House can also take up contempt proceedings in case of an offence against the authority or dignity of the House, such as disobedience to its legitimate orders or libels upon itself, its members or officers.
• If found guilty of breach of privilege or contempt of the House, a person can either be punished by imprisonment, or receive an admonition or reprimand.
• Two other punishments may also be awarded to the members for contempt:
  • suspension from the House  
  • expulsion from the House

What is privilege motion?

• An MP has to obtain the consent of the presiding officer to raise a question involving a breach of privilege or contempt.
• That MP has to give notice in writing to the Secretary-General before the commencement of the sitting.
• No more than one question of privilege is allowed to be raised in the same sitting.
• Once notice is received, the Speaker may either give or withhold consent for raising the question of privilege in the House.
• If consent is granted, the MP who has given notice has to ask for the leave of the House to raise the question of privilege, upon which at least 25 members of the House have to support its introduction.
• Once admitted, the House may either take up the matter or may refer it to the Committee of Privileges.

What percentage of privilege notices are rejected?

• A large number of notices are rejected, with penal action recommended in only a few instances:
  • In 1978 then home minister Charan Singh moved a resolution of breach of privilege against Indira Gandhi following observations made by the Justice Shah Commission which probed excesses during the Emergency.
    • She was expelled from the house.
  • Another case was expulsion of Subramanian Swamy from the Rajya Sabha in 1976.
    • Swamy was charged with bringing disrepute to Parliament by his activities through interviews in foreign publications that were construed as anti-India propaganda.

The privileges committee

• Lok Sabha:
  • In the Lok Sabha, the Speaker nominates a committee of privileges consisting of 15 members as per respective party strengths.
• Rajya Sabha:
  • In the Rajya Sabha, the deputy chairperson heads the committee of privileges that consists of 10 members.

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Topic 8: Simultaneous elections

Context: The issue of holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies has been referred to the Law Commission for further examination.

What are simultaneous elections?

• Currently, elections to the state assemblies and the Lok Sabha are held separately.
  • Whenever the incumbent government’s five-year term ends or whenever it is dissolved due to various reasons.
• The idea of “One Nation, One Election” envisages a system where elections to all states and the Lok Sabha will have to be held simultaneously.
• This will involve the restructuring of the Indian election cycle in a manner that elections to the states and the centre synchronise.
• This would mean that the voters will cast their vote for electing members of the LS and the state assemblies on a single day, at the same time (or in a phased manner as the case may be).

Background

• Simultaneous elections are not new to India.
• They were the norm until 1967.
• Since 1970 elections to State Assemblies and Parliament have been held separately.
• The idea of reverting to simultaneous polls was mooted in the annual report of the Election Commission in 1983.
• The Law Commission’s Report also referred to it in 1999.
• The Niti Aayog prepared a working paper on the subject in 2017.

Arguments for simultaneous elections:

• Simultaneous polls will reduce enormous costs involved in separate elections.
• The system will help ruling parties focus on governance instead of being constantly in election mode.
• Simultaneous polls will boost voter turnout.

Arguments against simultaneous polls

• National and state issues are different, and holding simultaneous elections is likely to affect the judgment of voters.
• Since elections will be held once in five years, it will reduce the government’s accountability to the people.
  • Repeated elections keep legislators on their toes and increases accountability.
• When an election in a State is postponed until the synchronised phase, President’s rule will have to be imposed in the interim period in that state.
  • This will be a blow to democracy and federalism.

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Topic 9: Horseshoe crabs

Context: Horseshoe crabs are disappearing off Odisha’s coast.

Key details:

• Horseshoe crabs are marine and brackish water arthropods of the family.
• Despite their name, they are not true crabs or crustaceans, they are chelicerates, most closely related to arachnids such as spiders, ticks, and scorpions.
• Horseshoe crabs live primarily in and around shallow coastal waters on soft, sandy or muddy bottoms.
• They are generally found in the intertidal zone at spring high tides.
• This is the oldest living creature on earth.
  • Palaeontological studies say the age of horseshoe crabs is 450 million years.
  • The creature has lived on earth without undergoing any morphological change.
• Medicinal value
  • The blood of this crab is very important for the preparation of rapid diagnostic reagents.
  • All injectable medicines are tested on them.
  • A molecule has been developed from a reagent of horseshoe crab to help treat pre-eclampsia.
• Conservation:
  • The species is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List specifically because of overexploitation and loss of critical habitat.