Legal Current Affairs

If you’re preparing for CLAT, Current Affairs play a significant role in securing a good score. So, you need to be updated with the daily current affairs and current happenings across the globe. Here is a list of some legal current affairs that took place this week.

Supreme Court Order on NEET PG admissions

On January 7, 2022, the Supreme Court of India allowed the commencement of the counseling process for NEET-PG and NEET-UG for the academic year 2021-22 admissions, based on the existing quota system. Court has upheld the constitutionality of 27% OBC reservation.

Highlights

• After the supreme court’s order, counseling process would start on the basis of 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and 27% quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC), in All India Quota.
• SC allowed the existing criteria to operate for the current academic year, as regards criteria to determine EWS (8 lakhs gross annual income cut-off), in order to avoid delay in the admission process further.
• But, future application of EWS criteria will be subject to the final outcome of the petitions. The EWS criteria were stipulated in the Office Memorandum of July 2019.

Recommendation of Pandey Committee

Supreme Court has accepted the recommendations of the Pandey committee. Pandey Committee had given the following recommendations:

1. To use the criteria for EWS stipulated in OM 2019 (for EWS), in a bid to ensure that the admission process is not dislocated.
2. It is recommended to conduct counseling on the basis of NEET PG 2021 and NEET UG 2021 by giving effect to the resolution provided by the notice of July 29, 2021. It is recommended to go with a 27% reservation for OBC and a 10% reservation for EWS in All India Quota seats.
3. It is recommended to use criteria for the determination of EWS notified by OM 2019 for identifying the EWS category which appeared in NEET UG 2021 and NEET PG 2021 examinations.
4. Validity of the criteria determined by Pandey committee to identify the EWS prospectively in future be subject to final results of the petitions.
5. Based on the recommendations of the committee, the petition will be listed for the final hearing on the validity of EWS criteria in the third week of March 2022.

Special Protection Group (SPG) Act – Highlights

The Special Protection Group was created in 1985. The SPG protects the Prime Minister and his immediate family members. It also protects the former prime ministers.

Key Features of SPG Act

• The act defines “Proximate Security” as providing protection in close distance when the PM travels by rail, road, watercraft, aircraft, or on foot. This includes his residence and other places of engagements and functions as well.
• The SPG force is controlled by the Union Government. The directors and assistant directors of the group are appointed by the Union Government.
• No member of the group shall resign during his term of service.
• The members cannot join a trade union or political union or any other unions
• They shall not communicate with the press

SPG (Amendment) Act 2019

Earlier the SPG protected the former PMs and their immediate family members for a period of one year after they left their office. After they left the office, the protection was provided based on the level of threat faced by the former PM. The threat should be from a terrorist organization or from a military. It should be continuous and grave. And to the family members, the protection was provided anywhere else as well, even when they were away from the PM residence.

The above provision was amended. The SPG will provide protection to the former PM and his family members for five years after he leaves office. And the protection will be provided only at the residence allotted to him. Also, the protection will be provided to the family members only if they stay with the former PM at his allotted residence.

While the PM is in power, the protection to his family members is provided only in his residence and not anywhere else.

Why was the act amended?

To reduce the huge drain of resources in allotting SPGs. Most of the time, the allotment was not realistic. It was misused for social status. The SPG protection should be offered only based on a threat basis. It is a distinctive and special force. The GoI puts in huge resources in training these commandos.

List of Recent Cabinet Approvals

On January 6, 2021, The Union Cabinet gave the nod to several proposals, including Phase 2 of Green Energy Corridor and MoU with Nepal for constructing a bridge over Mahakali River.

Green Energy Corridor Phase 2

• The government approved phase 2 of the green energy corridor under the “intra-state transmission system” for facilitating grid integration and power evacuation of around 20 gigawatts of renewable energy projects across seven states.
• The project is likely to help in achieving the target of 450 GW installed renewable energy capacity by 2030.
• The project will also contribute to the long-term energy security of India.
• It will add around 10,750 circuit kilometers of transmission lines and 27,500 MegaVolt-Amperes transformation capacity of substations.

Financial Assistance

The total estimated cost of phase 2 of the “Green Energy Corridor” project is Rs 12,031 crore. The central government is providing financial assistance at 33% of the project cost.

Which states will be covered under the project?

Phase 2 of the Green Energy Corridor Project will cover the states of Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.

India-Nepal MoU on Bridge over Mahakali River

The Cabinet also approved a memorandum of understanding between India and Nepal. The MoU provides for the construction of a bridge over River Mahakali. This bridge will help the people living in the Dharchula district of Uttarakhand as well as in the area under Nepal territory.

Mahakali River

The Mahakali River is also known as Kali River or Sharda River. The river originates at Kalapani in the Himalayas at an altitude of 3,600 m. It originates in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand. It flows along Nepal’s western border with India. The river has a basin area of 14,871 km2. The river takes the name “Kali” from the union of two streams at Gunji. It enters the Terai Plains after Brahmadev Mandi near Tanakpur, and here it is called Sharda River. Sharda River has been named after Sarada, which is another name for Goddess Saraswati. In Nepal, the river is called “Mahakali,” while in Uttarakhand, it is called Kali Ganga.

Delhi Teachers’ University Bill 2022

The Delhi Teachers University Bill was passed by Delhi Assembly on January 4, 2022.

What is the purpose of this bill?

The bill seeks to set up a teachers’ training university in Delhi.

About Delhi Teacher’s University

• This university will offer a four-year integrated teacher education program after Class 12.
• The program will incorporate BA & B.Ed, BSc & B.Ed, and BCom & B.Ed courses.
• It will be a public university and will be dedicated to preparing excellent quality teachers for Delhi across different school stages.
• Students will be attached with Delhi government schools for the entire duration of the course for hands-on experience. The hands-on experience will help the students in gaining excellent practical knowledge in addition to theoretical knowledge.

Significance of the University

The Delhi Teacher’s University will act as a center for excellence which will prepare teachers at pre-service and in-service in the areas of education studies, policy, and leadership. It will help in bridging the gap between practice, policy, and research in teacher preparation. It will also constantly engage with the dynamic concept and realities of quality education in Delhi.

When would admission start?

Admission to this University will start for the academic session 2022-23. It will enroll 5000 students in the session.

Where will the university be set up?

Delhi Teacher’s University is coming up at Bakkarwala in east Delhi.

Starlink in India

The Satellite Internet Company of Elon Musk, Starlink, is facing a tough time in the Indian market. Starlink’s India head Sanjay Bhargava also announced to quit the company.

Highlights

• Starlink rolled out internet services quietly in India in early 2021. But it was forced to shut down services after government intervention.
• In November 2021, the Department of Telecommunications had warned Indian citizens to avoid buying Elon Musk’s Starlink Internet Services because it is not yet licensed in the country.
• The Telecom Department had also asked Elon Musk’s company to “get a license before selling Satellite-based internet services.”
• The government had also asked the company to refund all the pre-orders it received until it got the license to operate in India.

Pre-orders in India

Starlink has already received more than 5,000 pre-orders for its devices in India. However, it is struggling to receive commercial licenses. Without getting the license, it cannot offer any services here.

About Starlink

Starlink is a satellite internet constellation launched and operated by SpaceX. The satellite constellation provides satellite Internet access, covering most of the Earth. The constellation has grown to more than 1,700 satellites as of 2021. It will eventually consist of many more mass-produced small satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). The technical possibility of satellite internet service covers most parts of the Earth. However, actual service can be delivered only in those countries that have provided the license to SpaceX. Currently, a beta service offering is available across 21 countries.

Background

Early-stage planning for Starlink started in 2014. Product development occurred in earnest by 2017. In February 2018, the company launched two prototype test-flight satellites. Additional test satellites, as well as 60 operational satellites, were deployed in 2019. SpaceX launches up to 60 satellites at a time, further aims to deploy 1,584 of the 260 kg spacecraft to provide services across the globe by 2022.

EWS Quota Committee Report

On January 1, 2021, A special committee submitted a report to the Supreme Court on reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

Key Facts

• In a report, the panel has suggested implementing the recommendations only from the next admission cycle and not from the ongoing session.
• This is so because sudden change will cause major disruption across educational institutes as well as create complications for authorities and beneficiaries.

Background

A special committee was created to review the eligibility criteria of 10% reservations for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) in government institutes and jobs. Petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court to challenge the income criteria for the EWS quota in the NEET exam, which determines admissions to medical colleges. While hearing the petition, the court asked the central government how it arrived at Rs 8 lakh income limit. Following this, an expert committee was proposed to review the EWS quota criteria.

What are the recommendations?

• Committee has suggested dropping the existing criteria on residential asset size. It also suggested retaining the Rs 8 lakh annual income limit.
• It recommends continuing the existing process, which has been in effect since 2019, for the current admission cycle.
• It further suggests using a three-year feedback loop cycle for monitoring the actual outcomes of these criteria and then using them to adjust in the future.
• It also suggests using data exchange and information technology actively for verifying income & assets as well as improving targeting for EWS reservations.
• It suggests removing residential asset criteria because mere possession of a residential house may not reflect the economic condition of the candidate or his family.

Government’s view

The central government is expected to go with the panel’s recommendations and revise its EWS quota guidelines as per recommendations.

Members of the Panel

The expert committee comprises of three members:

1. Ajay Bhushan Pandey who is former finance secretary
2. VK Malhotra, a member secretary of the Indian Council of Social Science Research
3. Sanjeev Sanyal, who is the principal economic advisor to the government

EWS quota of 2019

EWS quota notification of 2019 was issued by the Department of Personnel & Training. As per the notification, irrespective of the family income, persons will be excluded from being identified as EWS in the following cases:

1. Whose family owns or possesses 5 acres of agricultural land,
2. A residential plot of 1,000 square feet
3. A residential plot of 100 square yards in notified municipalities
4. A plot of 200 square yards and above in areas other than notified municipalities

Extension of AFSPA in Nagaland

On December 30, 2021, the Central government declared the entire Nagaland a “disturbed area” for six months under the AFSPA Act.

Key Facts

• This declaration will be in effect, starting from December 30, 2021.
• The government has also termed the state’s condition as “disturbed and dangerous”.
• This decision was taken days after the central government constituted a high-level committee to examine the possibility of withdrawal of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from Nagaland.
• AFSPA has been operational in Nagaland for decades.

Centre’s view

The central government is of the view that an area comprising the whole of Nagaland is in such disturbed and dangerous condition that the use of armed forces to aid the civil power is necessary.

Which section of the act gives power to the center?

The central government exercised the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 to declare the entire Nagaland as a ‘disturbed area’.

Recommendation of the panel

This decision was taken following the recommendation of a panel, which was set to examine the possibility of withdrawal of the AFSPA. Notification to extend AFSPA was issued by an additional secretary in Home Ministry, Piyush Goyal. He has also been named as the member secretary in the panel. The Panel is headed by secretary-level officer Vivek Joshi. The panel was set up to ease the rising tension in Nagaland because of the killing of 14 civilians.

AFSPA Act

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 gives power to the armed forces to maintain public order in “disturbed areas”. With this act, armed forces are authorized to use force or even open fire after warning a person found to be in contravention of the law.

What is a disturbed area?

An area where the “use of armed forces in aid of civil power is necessary” is called a disturbed area. Any area can be declared as a disturbed area under section 3 of the AFSPA.

Stay tuned for more updates on legal current affairs and tips on CLAT preparation. 

References: 

1. https://www.gktoday.in/current-affairs/extension-of-afspa-in-nagaland/ 
2. https://www.gktoday.in/current-affairs/ews-quota-committee-report/ 
3. https://www.gktoday.in/current-affairs/supreme-court-order-on-neet-pg-admissions/ 
4. https://www.gktoday.in/current-affairs/special-protection-group-spg-act-highlights/ 
5. https://www.gktoday.in/current-affairs/list-of-recent-cabinet-approvals/  https://www.gktoday.in/current-affairs/starlink-in-india/
6. https://www.gktoday.in/current-affairs/delhi-teachers-university-bill-20/