GS PAPER: II

Ethics panel report

Why in the news?

• The Ethics Committee will present a report in the Lok Sabha on the allegations against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra of asking questions in exchange for money. It has been listed in the proceedings of the House.

About the case

• Recently The Lok Sabha Ethics Panel formally adopted by a 6:4 vote its report recommending disqualification of TMC’s Mahua Moitra from the House for sharing her login credentials with businessman Darshan Hiranandani.
• It noted that her action risked national security since Hiranandani had residency rights in Dubai and foreign nationals are among his kin.
• On the other hand Moitra called the recommendation a “pre-fixed match by a kangaroo court” and stated that she would be back in the next Lok Sabha with a bigger mandate.

What is Cash-for-Query Scam?

• A “cash-for-query” complaint is an accusation that someone took money in exchange for asking questions in Parliament.
• For example, in 2005, 11 former MPs were put on trial for a “cash-for-query” scam. The sting showed them taking cash to raise questions in Parliament.

About Ethics Committee

• Background: A resolution adopted at the Presiding Officers Conference held in October, 1996 which desired the legislatures to explore the possibility of constituting an Ethics Committee. 
• Rajya Sabha Committee: Ethics Committee, Rajya Sabha, the first such Committee by any legislature in India was constituted by the Chairman, Rajya Sabha on 4 March 1997, to oversee the moral and ethical conduct of the Members.
• Application of Rules: It was provided that in all respects of procedure and other matters, the rules applicable to the Committee of Privileges shall apply to the Ethics Committee with such variations and modifications as the Chairman/Speaker from time to time makes. 
• Lok Sabha Committee: Speaker 13th Lok Sabha (Late Shri G.M.C. Balayogi) constituted the first Ethics Committee in Lok Sabha on 16 May, 2000.

Role and Function of Ethics Committee:

• Ensure Good Conduct: To oversee the moral and ethical conduct of the Members;
• Adjudicating Disputes: To examine the cases referred to with reference to ethical and other misconduct of the Members. 
• In-Depth Examination: Examine every complaint relating to the unethical conduct of a member of Lok Sabha referred to it by the Speaker and make such recommendations as it may deem fit. 
• Suggestions and Reforms: Formulate a Code of Conduct for members and suggest amendments or additions to the Code of Conduct from time to time.

Procedure for complaints

• Any person can complain against a Member through another Lok Sabha MP, along with evidence of the alleged misconduct, and an affidavit stating that the complaint is not “false, frivolous, or vexatious”. If the Member himself complains, the affidavit is not needed.
• The Speaker can refer to the Committee any complaint against an MP.
• The Committee does not entertain complaints based only on media reports or on matters that are sub judice. The Committee makes a prima facie inquiry before deciding to examine a complaint. It makes its recommendations after evaluating the complaint.
• The Committee presents its report to the Speaker, who asks the House if the report should be taken up for consideration. There is also a provision for a half-hour discussion on the report.

GS PAPER – III

Inflow of illegal migrants

Why in the news?

While hearing petitions challenging the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955, a five-judge Constitution bench, presided over by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, asked the Centre and Assam governments to provide details on the “estimated inflow of illegal migrants” to Assam and other Northeastern states after March 25, 1971, and the status of border fencing.

About Constitution Bench:

• A Supreme Court bench with strength of minimum five judges is called the Constitution Bench.
• It is constituted whenever a matter of law arises that requires a provision of the Constitution to be interpreted, or there is a “significant legal question”.
• It is not binding on the CJI to be a part of a Constitution Bench.
• Article 145(3), which deals with the rules of the court, provides for the setting up of a Constitution Bench.

About section 6A

• As per Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, people who entered India between January 1, 1966, and March 25, 1971, and have been living in Assam, will be allowed to register themselves as citizens.
• Under Section 6A, foreigners who entered Assam before January 1, 1966, and have been “ordinarily resident” in the state, would have all the rights and obligations of Indian citizens. 
• Those who had entered between January 1, 1966 and March 25, 1971 would have the same rights and obligations except that they would not be able to vote for 10 years.

Challenges to Section 6A

• Encouraging foreign infiltration :Petitioners argue that Section 6A, by providing a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants who entered Assam before 1971, actually incentivized further “foreign infiltration” into the state.
  • • This is because it gave hope to illegal immigrants that they could eventually obtain citizenship, even if they entered the country illegally.
• Arbitrary and discriminatory:
• Section 6A has also been challenged on the grounds of being arbitrary and discriminatory.
• Critics argue that it violates the fundamental right to equality by providing preferential treatment to a specific group of illegal immigrants based on their date of entry.
• Lack of clarity on definition of “infiltration”: There is also some lack of clarity on the definition of “infiltration” used in Section 6A.
  • • This lack of clarity creates confusion and uncertainty, and can lead to potential misuse of the provision.
• Unjustified special treatment for Assam:Petitioners argue that there is no justification for singling out Assam and subjecting it to a different citizenship regime compared to other Indian states.
  • They claim that the justification of a violent political agitation leading to a political settlement (Assam Accord) is not sufficient to justify such a significant departure in policy.

GS PAPER – II

Cyclone Michaung: Aid announced

Why in news?

Cyclone Michaung, a tropical cyclone, which is third major in last 8 years, had caused lot of damage in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil nadu.

What were the Aids announced:

• An amount of Rs 493 crore to Andhra Pradesh and rs 450 crore to Tamilnadu was released.
• To help state government with management of relief, ministry of home affairs has been directed to release central share in advance.
• An amount of Rs 561.29 crore additionally released for Chennai flood mitigation efforts.
• The Rs 561.29 project is the first “Integrated urban flood management activities” for Chennai Basin project under the National disaster mitigation fund. It also includes central assistance of Rs 500 crore.

What is cyclone?

• A cyclone is a large scale air system with spiralling winds which forms low pressure system.
• Air circulates counter clockwise in the Northern hemisphere and clockwise in southern hemisphere.
• Cyclone is basically of two types, Tropical cyclone with temporal origin and temperate cyclone with frontal origin.

Name of the cyclone:

The name of the cyclone is given by Myanmar.

Why are cyclones given a name?

Naming of Tropical Cyclones (TCs) helps the scientific community, disaster managers, media and general masses to

• identify each individual cyclone
• use of short, distinctive given names in written as well as spoken communications is quicker and less subject to error than the older more cumbersome latitude-longitude identification methods.
• create awareness of its development.
• remove confusion in case of simultaneous occurrence of TCs over a region
• remember a Tropical cyclone easily
• rapidly and effectively disseminate warnings to much wider audience

These advantages are especially important in exchanging detailed storm information between hundreds of widely scattered stations, coastal bases, and ships at sea.

Who names the tropical cyclones?

• Worldwide there are six Regional Specialised Mteorological Centres (RSMCs) and five regional Tropical Cyclone Warning Centres (TCWCs) mandated for issuing advisories and naming of tropical cyclones. The tropical cyclones forming over different Ocean basins are named by the concerned RSMCs & TCWCs.
• India Meteorological Department is one of the six RSMCs to provide tropical cyclone and storm surge advisories to 13 member countries under WMO/ESCAP Panel including Bangladesh, India, Iran, Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. RSMC, New Delhi is also mandated to name the Tropical Cyclones developing over the north Indian Ocean (NIO) including the Bay of Bengal (BoB) and the Arabian Sea (AS).

GS PAPER – II

Reaction of Indian government: USA and Canada allegation

Why in news?

CPI member John Brittas inquired about the contrasting reactions of the Indian government to allegations of pannu and Nijjars, citing media reports.

What does External Affairs Minister said?

• The External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that the Indian government’s different reactions to the allegations in connection with plot to kill Sikh activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun levelled by the Canadian government and that to the indictment by the U.S. Justice Department were because Canada did not share any “specific evidence” while the U.S. provided “inputs” about the nexus of “organised crime, trafficking and other matters,”.

What was the allegation?

• Allegation was about murder for hire charges against the Indian National Nikhil Gupta.
• It was in connection with his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a U.S. citizen in New York City.
• It was about murder of Khalistani separatist Gurupatwant singh pannu on American soil.
• Canadian government also supported and linked it to the murder of Nijjars.

Different views regarding America and Canada:

• The Indian Government instituted an enquiry committee to probe the inputs received from the U.S.
• Certain inputs from U.S. as a part of security cooperation and those inputs were of concern because they were related to the nexus of organised crime, trafficking and other matters.
• So the bearing on India’s own security an enquiry was important.
• On the other hand Canadian government assertions were not backed by any evidence.