UPSC Daily Current Affairs- 18th December 2022 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-II

Context

The Supreme Court dismissed the review petition filed by Bilkis Bano challenging the early release of the 11 convicts.

• They were convicted for gang-raping her and murdering her family members in 2002. All 11 of them were sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime

Bilkis Bano Case

• About
  • In the aftermath of the Godhra riots in Gujarat in 2002, Bikinis Bano and her family were attacked by a group of people.
  • Bilkis was brutally gangraped and seven of her family members were murdered.
  • Her case was taken up by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Supreme Court, which ordered an investigation by the CBI.
  • Due to persistent death threats, the trial was moved out of Gujarat to Mumbai where charges were filed against these people.
  • In January 2008, a special CBI court in Mumbai had sentenced the 11 accused to life imprisonment.
• Release of these convicts
  • In 2022, one of the convicts, after completing 15 years and four months of his life term, moved to the Supreme Court for early release.
  • The SC asked the Gujarat government to consider the application for premature release, as per the state’s 1992 remission policy.
  • In August, the Gujarat government released all 11 convicts, after which Bilkis Bano filed the review petition with the SC.
• Review petition by Bilkis Bano
  • Her petition had wanted the court to reconsider its judgment which permitted the Gujarat government to apply the State’s Premature Release Policy of 1992.
  • Through her review petition, Bano said the remission policy of the State of Maharashtra, where the trial happened, and not Gujarat would have governed the case.
    • In May 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that there cannot be a concurrent jurisdiction of two State governments on the issue of remission.
    • Premature release of a convict has to be considered in terms of the policy applicable in the State where the crime was committed
    • Hence, Gujrat government’s remission policy was applied for the release of these convicts.

Power of SC to review its judgments

• Constitutional provision
  • A ruling by the Supreme Court is final and binding. The SC rarely entertains reviews of its rulings.
  • However, Article 137 of the Constitution grants the SC the power to review its judgments or orders.
  • A review petition must be filed within 30 days of pronouncement of the judgment.
• Grounds for review
  • In a 2013 ruling, the Supreme Court itself laid down three grounds for seeking a review of a verdict it has delivered:
    • the discovery of new and important matter or evidence which, after the exercise of due diligence, was not within the knowledge of the petitioner or could not be produced by him;
    • mistake or error apparent on the face of the record; or
    • any other sufficient reason.
      • In subsequent rulings, the court specified that “any sufficient reason” means a reason that is analogous to the other two grounds.
  • In another 2013 ruling (Union of India v. Sandur Manganese & Iron Ores Ltd), the court laid down nine principles on when a review is maintainable.
• Procedure followed while hearing the review cases
• 
  
  • Except in cases of death penalty, review petitions are heard through circulation by judges in their chambers, and not in an open court.
  • Lawyers make their case through written submissions and not oral arguments.
  • The judges who passed the verdict decide on the review petition as well.
• What if a review petition fails?
  • In Roopa Hurra v Ashok Hurra (2002), the court itself evolved the concept of a curative petition, which can be heard after a review is dismissed.
  • It is meant to ensure there is no miscarriage of justice, and to prevent abuse of process.
  • A curative petition is also entertained on very narrow grounds like a review petition, and is generally not granted an oral hearing.

Source: The Hindu

States shall share responsibility for security in border areas: Amit Shah

Context

The 25th Eastern Zonal Council (EZC) meeting, held at Kolkata, was chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

• Issues like illegal infiltration, trans-border smuggling and the vulnerable India-Bangladesh boundary were among subjects discussed at the meeting.
• In the light of the increase in the operational area of the border force earlier this year, the role of BSF was also discussed.
  • In October 2021, the Union govt extended the jurisdiction of BSF from 15 km to 50 km inside the international border along Punjab, West Bengal and Assam.
  • This was opposed by the West Bengal govt.

Zonal Council

Background:

• The idea of creation of Zonal Councils was mooted by the first PM Nehru in 1956.
• This was suggested during the course of debate on the report of the States Re-organisation Commission
• It was suggested that a high-level advisory forum should be set up:
  • to minimise the impact of linguistic hostilities prevailed at that time;
  • to create healthy inter-State and Centre-State environment.

About

• In the light of the idea promoted by the then PM Nehru, five Zonal Councils were set up under the States Re-organisation Act, 1956.
  • Zonal Councils are the statutory and not the constitutional bodies.
• The five councils are:
  • The Northern Zonal Council; The Central Zonal Council; The Eastern Zonal Council; The Western Zonal Council; The Southern Zonal Council.
• The North Eastern States are not included in the Zonal Councils.
  • Their special problems are looked after by the North Eastern Council, set up under the North Eastern Council Act, 1972.

Objectives

• The main objectives of setting up of Zonal Councils are as under:
  • Bringing out national integration;
  • Arresting the growth of acute State consciousness, regionalism, linguistic and particularistic tendencies;
  • Enabling the Centre and the States to co-operate and exchange ideas and experiences;
  • Establishing a climate of co-operation amongst the States for successful and speedy execution of development projects.

Organisational structure of the zonal councils

• Chairman
  • The Union Home Minister is the Chairman of each of these Councils.
• Vice Chairman
  • The Chief Ministers of the States included in each zone act as Vice-Chairman of the Zonal Council for that zone by rotation, each holding office for a period of one year at a time.
• Members
  • Chief Minister and two other Ministers as nominated by the Governor from each of the States and two members from Union Territories included in the zone.
• Advisers
  • One person nominated by the Planning Commission (now NITI Aayog) for each of the Zonal Councils,
  • Chief Secretaries and another officer/Development Commissioner nominated by each of the States included in the Zone
• Union Ministers are also invited to participate in the meetings of Zonal Councils depending upon necessity.

Functions

• Each Zonal Council is an advisory body and may discuss any matter in which some or all of the States represented in that Council have a common interest.
• It may advise the Central Government and the Government of each State concerned upon the action to be taken on any such matter.
• In particular, a Zonal Council may discuss, and make recommendations with regard to:
  • any matter of common interest in the field of economic and social planning;
  • any matter concerning border disputes, linguistic minorities or inter-State transport;
  • any matter connected with or arising out of, the re-organization of the States under the States Reorganisation Act.

How this council is different from other platforms promoting cooperative federalism?

• There are a large number of other platforms which works on the principle of promoting cooperative federalism.
  • Eg., National Development Council, Inter State Council, Governor’s/Chief Minister’s Conferences and other periodical high-level conferences.
• However, the Zonal Councils are different, both in content and character.
• They are regional fora of cooperative endeavour for States linked with each other economically, politically and culturally.
• Being compact high-level bodies, specially meant for looking after the interests of respective zones, they are capable of focusing attention on specific issues taking into account regional factors, while keeping the national perspective in view.

Source: LiveMint

Context

Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Ko Kaam Karyakram (PMKKK) has been named as Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) Scheme by the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

What are the Key Points of the Scheme?

• About:
  • It is a Central-Sector Scheme, which focuses on the skilling, entrepreneurship and leadership training requirements of the minority and artisan communities across the country.
  • This is an integrated scheme that converges five erstwhile schemes of the Ministry of Minority Affairs viz,
• Seekho aur Kamao:
  • This is a placement linked skill development scheme for minorities aiming to upgrade the skills of minority youth in various modern/traditional skills depending upon their qualification, present economic trends and market potential
• USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills & Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development): It aims to promote and preserve the rich heritage of the traditional arts & crafts of the minority communities.
• Hamari Dharohar: It has been formulated to preserve rich heritage of minority communities of India.
• Nai Roshni: It is a Leadership Development Programme for women belonging to minority communities in the age group of 18 to 65 years. It was started in 2012-13.
• Nai Manzil: The scheme aims to benefit the youth (both men & women) belonging to six notified minority communities of 17-35 years of age, who do not have formal school leaving certificate.
  • The scheme has been approved by the Cabinet for the period of 15^th Finance Commission.
• Components:
  • Skill and Training
  • Leadership and Entrepreneurship
  • Education
  • Infrastructure Development
• Objectives:
  • PM VIKAS aims to improve the livelihoods of the minorities, particularly the artisan communities, using the components of skill development, education, women leadership & entrepreneurship.
  • These components complement each other in the ultimate objective of the scheme to increase the incomes of the beneficiaries and provide support by facilitating credit and market linkages.

GS-III

Context

Recently, at the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Small Island Developing States have agreed to form Coalition for Nature.

Context

Recently, the Tal Chhapar blackbuck sanctuary in Churu district of Rajasthan has received a protective cover.

Context

Recently, Ladakh got its first ever Geographical Indication Tag to Raktsey Karpo Apricot

SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography)

Context

Recently, NASA has launched a satellite to conduct a comprehensive study of Oceans, rivers and Lakes around the world.