{News Notes} Daily News Notes: 7th & 8th Jan, 2013

Justice D. K. Jain, Judge, Supreme Court of India, will be the Chairman of the 20th Law Commission of India. The Twentieth Law Commission was constituted through a Government Order with effect from 1st September, 2012. It has a three-year term ending on 31st August, 2015. The Terms of Reference of the 20th Law Commission include the following: [1.] Identify laws which are no longer needed or relevant and can be immediately repealed; [2.] Identify laws which are not in harmony with the existing climate of economic liberalization and need change; [3.] Suggest suitable measures for quick redressal of citizens grievances, in the field of law; [4.] Examine the Laws which affect the poor and carry out post-audit for socio-economic legislations; [5.] Keep under review the system of judicial administration to ensure elimination of delays, speedy clearance of arrears and reduction in costs so as to secure quick and economical disposal of cases without affecting the cardinal principle that decision should be just and fair; [6.] Simplification of procedure to reduce and eliminate technicalities and devices for delay so that it operates not as an end in itself but as a means of achieving justice; [7.] Examine the existing laws in the light of Directive Principles of State Policy and to suggest ways of improvement and reform corresponding laws; [8.] Examine the existing laws with a view for promoting gender equality and suggesting amendments thereto.
The Union Finance Minister said that existence of efficient financial markets i.e. both banks and capital markets, is paramount for achieving economic growth. He said that efficient intermediation by financial markets lead to higher economic growth by increasing savings and their optimal allocation for productive uses. He also said that banks and other intermediaries including Non-Banking Financial Companies (NFBCs), Insurance and Pension Funds and Mutual Funds etc. are mechanisms to channel savings to investment. The Finance Minister further said that major steps have been taken to reform India’s regulatory framework to adopt best international practices. Reforms in equity markets lead the market development process.
Central IAS Association has suggested that the government should make it mandatory for all senior government recruits to sign a declaration that “they have not and will not either give or take dowry”. The Association which wants definition of rape to be changed to include marital rape, however, opposes “castration and other abnormal kinds of punishment”. In the wake of the recent gang-rape incident in Delhi, here are some of the suggestions submitted by Indian Civil and Administrative Service (Central) Association to JS Verma Commission appointed to examine the present laws on safety and dignity of women: [1.] The definition of rape needs to be amended to include penetration by a foreign body without consent and forced sexual activity of any kind; [2.] Marital rape has to be accepted as rape, equivalent to rape by any other person; [3.] Since the law now accepts homosexuality, rape of a male has to be recognised; [4.] On the lines of the rape law of Norway, a separate section defining aggravated rape including gang rape, and violent assault with the intention to cause bodily harm, including acid attacks, needs to be created. Any rape of a minor below 12 years of age should also be treated as aggravated rape. This section must attract life imprisonment (till death, not till fourteen years) and death penalty as punishment; [5.] Rape proved to be committed by a juvenile must attract the same punishment as in the case of others after the convict attains majority; [6.] The section on molestation/outraging the modesty of a woman needs to clearly include stalking, stripping, and any other action with the intent to insult and harm a female on the basis of gender. Punishment in these cases should be a minimum of three years RI; [7.] Opaque boundary walls should not be allowed to be of a height exceeding 4 feet. If a higher fencing is needed for a security reason it should be made of wires or bars; [8.] Liquor shops should not be allowed near bus stops or metro station entry points; [9.] Self-defence classes should be made mandatory for girls from Class VI onwards.
The Department of Personnel and Training will soon commission what it calls a 360 degree study of the implementation of the RTI Act, 2005. While asking for Expression of Interest (EoI) from reputed consultants including institutions, organizations and consortium, the department says, “The implementation of the provisions of the RTI Act has to be studied from the perspective of both the demand and supply side. The approach to achieving the above is viewing RTI Applications and their responses from the information seekers’ and providers’ angle.” The time-frame of the study is six to nine months.
Minister of Commerce and Industry stated that the national investment rate is around 33-34%, and by the end of 12th Plan the aim is to increase to 36%. Further, he said that the India is facing challenges in infrastructure development, especially in urban sector. Today, around 430 million people (~36% of the total population) are residing in cities and in the next decade, the number will increase to 600 million. Similarly, at present, there are 53 cities in India, and it will rise to 72 in the next decade years, each having a population of one million.
Minister for Women and Child Development held consultations today to formulate a National Plan of Action to Improve the Child Sex Ratio (0–6 years). She chaired a meeting of representatives of various Union Ministries, Planning Commission, and with members of civil society organizations, advocates, radiologists, gynaecologists and doctors. Representatives from UNFPA, UNICEF, and UNDP also participated in the consultations held here today. At the outset, the Minister said child sex ratio is a powerful indicator of the social response, attitude towards the girl child and has adverse implications not only for gender equality but also for social violence, human development and democracy. The Minister stated that while certain States have consistently shown low number of women population like Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. There are as many as 119 districts with CSR lower than the already low average on 914. The districts with lowest CSR are mainly located in Northern and Western States of the country. What is even more alarming, she pointed out was that the practice of prenatal sex selection spreads, the sex ratio at birth in urban areas remains far worse 898 for than for rural areas where it was 907 in 2008-10.
The Central Government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have, in the last week, been indicating measures in the offing that will help reduce the import of gold as it is seen as one of the reasons for India’s high current account deficit. An increase from the prevailing 4 per cent import duty on gold is being considered and the RBI has recommended restrictions on value and volume of gold imports. However, some experts think that it will not solve the problem; instead, it will create a new monster like smuggling and the hawala trade. “Buying less gold — and placing heavy duties on gold imports and jewellery purchasing — will affect the gem and jewellery industry. Gold is a protector of assets, an important attribute during economic uncertainty when wealth preservation is paramount. It also has a key role to play in hedging against currency risk and inflation, both prevalent economic issues facing India today,” experts said.
The BJP government in Jharkhand today recommended dissolution of the state assembly after its coalition partner, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, JMM withdrew its support to the government. [VOICEEE: power hungry politician doing everything to destabilize the state]
Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) from Tourism during the year 2012 showed an increase of 21.8% as compared to FEEs of 2011. Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in the country also registered an increase of 5.4% during the year 2012 as compared to FTAs of 2011.
The President of India has conferred the Honorary Rank of the Indian Army on Suprabal Jana Sewa Shree General Gaurav Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana, Chief of the Army Staff, Nepalese Army, for his commendable military prowess and immeasurable contribution to further fostering the long and friendly association with India, at a special Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The world's population surpassed 7 billion in 2011, only 13 years after marking the previous billion-person milestone. In 2011, the average person was just under 32, four years older than in 1950, when a mere 2.5 billion souls lived on Earth. Since then, thanks to economic growth and improvements in living standards, average life expectancy at birth has leaped by 20 years, to 68. The UN's population projections show a continuation of this trend. By the end of this century the average person will be a little over 42 and newborns can expect to live to 81. The world's population will have stabilised at just over 10 billion. Given the challenges the planet may be facing by then, it is to be hoped such experience brings them wisdom as well. [InfoGraphic]
French actor Gerard Depardieu, who received a Russian passport in a move to avoid higher taxes for the rich back home, travelled on Sunday to Mordovia in central Russia where he was offered to set up a residence. Mordovia is famous for its often unforgiving climate and a large number of prison camps, which appeared in the 1930s as part of the Stalin-era GULAG system of labour camps. Depardieu was there on the eve of the Orthodox Christmas, which Russia celebrates on January 7.
China on Saturday came out with a new policy to boost usage of public transport, days after the capital, Beijing, put into operation four subway lines — with a combined length of 70 km — whose addition makes the sprawling 16-line Beijing subway system the world’s longest. It also states that the use of public transport “should account for 60 per cent of motor vehicle use”. The policy includes incentives for operators, exempting all public transport vehicles from consumption tax, fuel and diesel subsidies and favourable electricity usage rates. Officials said that in the next three years, the 16-line network will add one new line every year, with the total length of the system expected to reach 1,000 km by 2020 from today’s 442km.
India’s Sania Mirza was off to a winning start in 2013 when she combined with American partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands to clinch a win over Anna-Lena Groenfeld and Kveta Peschke in the Brisbane International women’s doubles final on Saturday.
Barcelona and Argentina forward football player, Lionel Messi has been awarded the FIFA's best player award Ballon d'Or for a fourth year running. Messi, 25, hit 91 goals during 2012 and beat club team-mate Andres Iniesta and Real Madrid's Ronaldo to the trophy. Abby Wambach won the women's award and Vicente del Bosque the coach accolade, while the team of the year was made up only of players from Spain's La Liga.