States stopping religious activities alone citing pandemic is strange, says Supreme Court
General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International
relations.
Why in News?
It was “strange” the State governments were opening up activities involving economic interests but cite the COVID-19 pandemic when it came to religious activities, the Supreme Court recently.
Key Details:
- This observation by Supreme court came after allowing a plea by Shri Parshwatilak Shwetamber Murtipujak Tapagacch Jain Trust to keep temples at Dadar, Byculla and Chembur in Mumbai open for prayers on August 22 and 23 for the Paryushan festival.
- The temples have to follow COVID-19 preventive norms in place.
- The observation was triggered by a submission made by senior advocate Dushyant Dave questioning the policy of the States to open malls, saloons and liquor shops.
Issues:
- The number of pandemic cases in the Maharashtra State had seen an alarming rise.
- If one religion is allowed by the court, then it will be difficult for State to prevent other religions from congregating.
- The Ganesh Chaturthi festival was also about to start. “If this is allowed, the floodgates will open.
Paryushan festival.
- Paryushanais the most important annual holy event for Jains and is usually celebrated in August or September in Hindi calendar Bhadrapad Month’s Shukla Paksha.
- Jains increase their level of spiritual intensity often using fasting and prayer/meditation to help.
- The five main vows are emphasized during this time.
- There are no set rules, and followers are encouraged to practice according to their ability and desires.
- Normally, Digambaras refer it as Das Lakshana Dharma while Śvētāmbaras refer to it as Paryushana (“abiding” or “coming together”).
- The duration of Paryushana is for 8 days for Śvētāmbara Jains and 10 days for Jains belonging to the Digambara sect.
- The festival ends with the celebration of Samvatsari or Kshamavani (forgiveness day).
Kerala readies to host its first dragonfly festival
Paper:
Mains: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
Why in News?
The WWF-India Kerala unit, in association with the Society for Odonate Studies (SOS) and Thumbipuranam, is organising the first-ever State Dragonfly Festival in Kerala.
Details:
- The Dragonfly Festival is named Thumbimahotsavam 2020.
- The festival is expected to culminate with the state dragonfly summit to be organised in January 2021.
The events are a part of a national dragonfly festival being organised by the WWF India, Bombay Natural History Society and the Indian Dragonfly Society in association with the National Biodiversity Board, United Nations Environment Programme, United Nations Development Programme and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Why are Dragonflies important?
- Dragonflies act as important bio-indicators of the ecological health of an area.
- They help in controlling the population of harmful insects and mosquitoes.
- Dragonfly larvae are equally important as they feed onto mosquito eggs and larvae, protecting the surroundings from Malaria and Dengue.
- They survive in pure and clean water ensuring that the water body is clean.
State run banks stare at capital shortage again, warns Moody’s
Paper:
Mains: General Studies-III: Technology, Economic Development, Bio diversity, Environment, Security and Disaster Management
Why in News?
Sharp slowdown in India’s economic growth exacerbated by the COVID-19 outbreak will hurt public sector banks’ (PSBs) asset quality, and result in sharp increases in credit costs, hurting profitability, according to Moody’s Investors Service.
Key details:
- PSBs will need ₹1.9-₹2.1 trillion ($25-$28 billion) in external capital over the next two years to restore their loss- absorbing buffers.
- The most likely source of capital to plug the capital shortfalls will be government support.
- The banks’ asset quality will deteriorate, led by retail and small business loans.
- According to Moody’s, the Indian economy will contract sharply in fiscal year ending March 2021 before returning to growth, though modestly, in the next fiscal.
- If the same scenario continues, formation of new non-performing loans (NPLs) will accelerate substantially, driven by retail and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) segments.
As floods wreak havoc, Centre urges states to firm up own laws to curb flood damage
Paper:
Mains: General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.
Why in news?
With floods claiming more than 800 lives and affecting millions in many parts of the country in the ongoing monsoon season, the Centre has asked state governments to take “urgent action” for “enactment of suitable legislation”, on lines of the Model Flood Plain Zoning Bill, 1975, to mitigate damage.
Key details:
- The subject of floodplains and protection of riverbeds come under the domain of state governments. Thus, a law on this can be made only by states.
- flood plain zoning has been recognised as an effective non-structural measure for flood management.
- This concept is based on the fact that the flood plain of a river [is] essentially its domain and any intrusion into or development activity therein must take into account the river’s ‘right of way’.”
- Demarcation of appropriate flood zones for various uses of flood plains not only helps in mitigation of flood damages, it also aids in ground water recharge, maintenance of water quality and conservation of riverine biodiversity.
Background:
- In 1975, the Central Water Commission (CWC) drafted the model flood plain zoning Bill and circulated it to states and UTs.
- Only Manipur, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand have so far enacted this legislation.
- Manipur enacted the legislation in 1978, demarcation of flood zones is yet to be done.
- Rajasthan enacted a law on this in 1997 but its enforcement is yet to be done.
- Uttarakhand, is the only state to have not only legislated a law on this – in 2012 – but it also notified limits of floodplain areas in two cities: Haridwar (Chandighat to Laskar) and Uttarkashi (Gangotri to Badethi Chungi).
In contempt case, the ‘Mulgaonkar principles’
Paper:
Mains: General Studies- II: Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice and International relations.
Why in News?
In the criticism against the Supreme Court’s ruling that held advocate Prashant Bhushan guilty of contempt of court, his counsel has invoked the ‘Mulgaonkar Principles’, urging the court to show restraint.
- Mulgaonkar
The Mulgaonkar principles
- S Mulgaonkar v Unknown (1978) is a case that led to a landmark ruling on the subject of contempt.
- By a 2:1 majority, the court held Mulgaonkar not guilty of contempt although the same Bench had initiated the proceedings.
- Justices P Kailasam and Krishna Iyer formed the majority going against then CJI M H Beg.
- Justice Iyer’s counsel of caution in exercising the contempt jurisdiction came to be called the Mulgaonkar principles.
What did the ruling say?
- The first rule in the branch of power is a “wise economy of use by the Court of this branch of its jurisdiction”.
- The Court will act with seriousness and severity where justice is jeopardized by a gross and/or unfounded attack on the judges, where the attack is calculated to obstruct or destroy the judicial process.
- The court is willing to ignore, by a majestic liberalism, trifling and venial offenses-the dogs may bark, the caravan will pass.
- The court will not be prompted to act as a result of an easy irritability.