THE HINDU - JAN 15 | CLAT | Law Entrance Resources

Govt. arms civilians in border villages

Summary:

The Indian government has begun training villagers in the Pir Panjal Valley in the state of Jammu and Kashmir to use weapons in self-defence. The training is part of a government policy to revive the Village Defence Committees (VDCs), which were disbanded in the early 2000s over allegations of crimes committed by members. Over the past week, hundreds of villagers in Rajouri and Poonch districts have received basic arms training by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the army. The move came after seven Hindus were killed in twin terror strikes in Dangri village, Rajouri district.

Village Defence Committees (VDCs) are groups of civilians who are trained and armed by the government to protect their villages and communities from potential threats. These committees were formed in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, primarily to protect villages from terrorist attacks and infiltration from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. However, in the early 2000s, allegations of crimes such as abduction and rape committed by VDC members led to the disbandment of the committees. The Indian government has recently revived the VDCs in an effort to increase security in the region and empower citizens to protect their communities.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is a security force of the Indian government that works under the Ministry of Home Affairs. It is the largest paramilitary force in the country, with over 3.25 lakh personnel. The CRPF is responsible for maintaining law and order, internal security, and counter-insurgency operations in various parts of India. The force is also tasked with providing security cover to government officials and VIPs, as well as protecting vital installations and infrastructure. The CRPF also plays a key role in counter-terrorism operations and providing security during elections. In addition to its regular duties, the CRPF also provides assistance to state and union territory police forces, as well as to other government agencies, in maintaining law and order.

After namaz row in Gurugram, fresh controversy erupts over Idgah land

Summary:

Construction on a 2.5-acre site for Idgah in Haryana, India has been stopped due to protests and vandalism. The land was assigned by the Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran, the state’s urban development agency, in December last year. However, locals, a resident welfare association and Hindu groups are seeking its cancellation, stirring up a new controversy. Entries to the plot have now been closed. Hindu groups have been protesting against Friday namaz in open spaces in Gurugram for the past few years, and open spaces available for congregational namaz have shrunk from 116 to 6. The land was allotted to the Haryana Waqf Board after a 9-year-long legal battle. Congregational Friday namaz and public prayers on Id were to be held there.

Over 1,500 arrests, 548 cases solved: busy first year at Delhi’s cyber police stations

Summary:

Delhi Police have set up a cyber police station in each of the city's 15 police districts to deal with rising cyber crimes. The data shows that 1,516 people have been arrested so far for cybercrimes, with South East seeing the most FIRs registered at 165 and North topping in terms of cases solved with 54. The most commonly solved cases at these police stations were email and social media fraud, data theft, ransom-ware, ATM and credit card fraud, insurance scam, lottery scam, sextortion, Chinese loan app scam and electricity bill fraud. The police are mandated to process complaints and get in touch with the victim and SIM provider within 24 hours and if there is insufficient evidence to register FIRs, action-taken report is mandatory to be filed within 14 days.

FIR stands for First Information Report. It is a legal document that is filed by the police in India when they receive information about a criminal offense that has been committed. The FIR is the first step in the process of criminal investigation and prosecution. It contains details about the crime, such as the time, place, and nature of the offense, as well as the names and addresses of any witnesses or suspects. Once an FIR is filed, the police are required to start an investigation and collect evidence to support the allegations made in the report. The FIR is also used as a reference for further legal proceedings, including the arrest of suspects and the presentation of charges in court. In Indian law, the FIR is considered to be the most important document in criminal proceedings, as it provides the basis for the entire investigation and prosecution.

‘Despite COVID, India responded strongly to China’

Summary:

Union Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar said that India's counter response to China's attempt to change the status quo in May 2020 was firm and strong, despite the pandemic. He said that China was trying to change the status quo by bringing in large forces in violation of agreements, and India's forces deployed were continuing to safeguard the frontiers in the most extreme and harshest weather. He observed that India has shifted gears on various spheres since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power, because of which the country's stature has improved and has become a country that shaped the global agenda and influenced its outcomes. He said that the country is now evolving into an effective first responder in regional crisis situations and it was showing zero tolerance on terrorism.

EIA must be done before sanction of urban projects: SC

Summary:

The Supreme Court in India has told lawmakers and policy makers to make sure that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies are done before giving permission for urban development projects in the country's cities. The court said that this was necessary to balance sustainable development and environmental protection, and that it was important to make sure that the development does not harm the environment. The court also pointed out how haphazard urban development has ruined the city of Bengaluru, and that it was time for the government to take action to prevent this from happening again. The court has sent copies of the judgment to the Cabinet Secretary and the Chief Secretaries of all the states to take note of it.

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a study that is conducted to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of a proposed project or development. It looks at the potential effects on air, water, soil, wildlife, and human health, as well as the overall ecological impact of the project. The purpose of an EIA is to identify any potential negative impacts and to make recommendations for how to mitigate or avoid those impacts. This process helps decision-makers to weigh the benefits and risks of a project and to make informed decisions about whether or not to proceed with the development.

CBI visits Sisodia’s office in Delhi; AAP questions probe agency’s motive

Summary:

A team from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) visited the office of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia at the Delhi Secretariat. The agency said it was not a search operation but only a visit in connection with the investigation in the Delhi excise policy case. Sisodia is one among the 15 accused who were named in the agency's FIR registered last year, alleging multiple irregularities in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped excise policy. The AAP questioned the motive behind the agency's visit. The CBI investigation was recommended by Lieutenant-Governor V.K. Saxena last year.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is a federal agency in India that investigates and enforces certain laws related to criminal activity. The CBI is similar to the FBI in the United States. It is responsible for investigating cases of corruption and other serious crimes that are of national importance.

China and Bhutan agree to ‘push forward’ border talks

Summary:

Officials from China and Bhutan have agreed to move forward with a three-step roadmap as part of boundary talks in the city of Kunming, China. The two sides agreed to implement all steps of the roadmap and to increase the frequency of expert group meetings. The talks and roadmap are in relation to disputes over the Doklam and areas along Bhutan's western and northern borders with China. Recently, China has also included areas along Bhutan's eastern borders, which border India's state of Arunachal Pradesh, in the dispute

What does Centre want in Bhopal gas case?

Summary

The Union of India has called the Bhopal gas leak tragedy the world’s largest industrial disaster. On the intervening night of December 2-3, 1984, methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas escaped from the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, leading to hundreds of deaths. The government has sought an additional amount of ₹675.96 crore in compensation from the pesticide company. The UCC has refused to pay a “farthing more”. The court made it clear that it would not “try” the curative petition like an ordinary suit and reopen the settlement.

MFIs to play leading role in India’s economic growth: study

Summary:

Microfinance institutions, which give small loans to people with low income, will be important for India's growth, according to a study. The global market for these institutions is expected to grow a lot over the next five years, and many governments and organizations are working to help people living in poverty by giving them access to these small loans. In India, these institutions have started using online tools like mobile banking and e-wallets to make it easier for people to get loans. The future of these institutions will depend on their ability to work with partners, create new products, and use technology.