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Ajit Doval on Governance Challenges
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21 Mar 2025 - 3 min read
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Polity and Governance04-Nov-2025
Jain Monk Ends Hunger Strike
### Exam-Focused Notes on Pigeon Shelter Protests and Government Response #### Key Events: - **Indefinite Hunger Strike**: Jain monk Nileshchandra Vijay initiated a hunger strike at Azad Maidan, Mumbai, demanding the restoration of the Dadar pigeon shelter (Kabutarkhana) alongside other demands. - **Government Engagement**: After discussions with Cabinet Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, the monk ended his protest, contingent upon a promise of discussion regarding the issues within 15 days with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. #### Primary Demands: 1. **Restoration of the Dadar Kabutarkhana**. 2. **Publication of Government Policies**: A clear statement on whether feeding pigeons or birds is banned. 3. **Regular Sanitation**: A program implemented by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) at feeding areas. 4. **Veterinary Care**: Immediate medical attention for injured or dehydrated stray animals and birds. 5. **Protection of Animals**: Including cows and all milch and farm animals. 6. **Heritage Status**: Declaration of ancient temples and sanctuaries as Heritage Sites. #### Background Context: - **Bombay High Court Intervention**: The court ordered the closure of the Dadar Kabutarkhana following concerns about health hazards attributed to pigeon droppings. The issue gained traction after Shiv Sena leader raised it in the Maharashtra legislative council. - **Expert Committee Formation**: In response to community protests, the court established a committee to explore alternative pigeon feeding sites, resulting in BMC proposing controlled feeding at four distant locations, which the Jain community deemed inadequate. #### Concerns Raised by the Jain Community: - The alternate feeding locations proposed are significantly far (up to 9 km), questioning the pigeons' ability to reach these sites. - Skepticism toward BMC's claims regarding health hazards related to pigeon droppings, with demands for concrete data to back such assertions. A RTI report indicated only two out of 52,000 cases of hypersensitivity pneumonitis were related to pigeons. ### Constitutional and Legal References: - **Constitution of India**: Right to life, which can be interpreted under Article 21, also implicitly includes the protection of animals and environmental welfare. - **Judicial Oversight**: The involvement of the Bombay High Court highlights the judiciary's role in mediating between governmental regulations and community rights. ### Government Response: - Assurance of dialogue and potential action by the state government regarding the needs and concerns of the Jain community. - Public health narratives driving municipal regulations regarding animal population control are under scrutiny. ### Health and Safety Considerations: - BMC's assertion that 65% of pigeon droppings pose health risks has prompted legal and communal debates over the validity of such claims, indicating a need for transparency in health data. ### Conclusion: The Jain community's protests regarding pigeon shelters underscore significant intersections of community rights, environmental ethics, health policy, and governmental accountability within urban contexts. The forthcoming discussions and inspections could yield impactful precedents regarding community-environment interactions and municipal governance in India.
Polity and Governance03-Nov-2025
Empowering Youth through Model Gram Sabha
**Exam-Focused Notes on the Model Youth Gram Sabha Initiative** 1. **Constitutional Reference:** - **Article 243A**: Defines the Gram Sabha as foundational to the Panchayati Raj system, representing every registered voter in a village. 2. **Democratic Importance:** - The Gram Sabha is integral to grassroots democracy, allowing rural citizens to engage directly in decision-making on budgets and development prioritization. - Emphasizes participatory democracy, accountability, and transparency. 3. **Educational Gap:** - Current educational curricula focus more on Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha rather than Panchayati Raj institutions, leading to low civic awareness and participation among youth. - Young individuals often have minimal knowledge or aspiration to lead at the village level. 4. **Government Initiative: Model Youth Gram Sabha** - **Launched**: Collaboration between the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Tribal Welfare, and Aspirational Bharat Collaborative in **2025**. - **Objective**: To simulate Gram Sabha processes in schools to ensure awareness and engagement in local governance. 5. **Program Structure:** - Students enact roles such as Sarpanch, ward members, and health workers to discuss and deliberate on village plans. - Supported by teacher training and incentives (prizes, certificates) to enhance participation. 6. **Implementation Phases:** - **Phase 1**: Pilot in over 1,000 schools across **28 States and 8 Union Territories**. Includes: - 600 Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas - 200 Eklavya Model Residential Schools - Selected Zilla Parishad schools in Maharashtra - Over **1,238 teachers** trained from various states, with ongoing training for more educators. 7. **Successful Pilot Programs:** - Conducted at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Baghpat (Uttar Pradesh) and Eklavya Model Residential School Alwar (Rajasthan). - Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Sitapur (Rajasthan) engaged over **300 students** in a Model Youth Gram Sabha. 8. **Future Plans:** - **Phase 2**: Aim to expand the initiative to all state-run schools in India beyond central institutions, enhancing democratic education and civic participation. 9. **Broader Impact on Civic Education:** - Aims to cultivate civic pride and local leadership among students, ensuring they appreciate the importance of their participation in the democratic process. - Engaging students in debates and resolutions promotes critical life skills and understanding of civic responsibilities. 10. **Vision for India:** - To align with the goal of a **Viksit Bharat** (Developed India) where citizen engagement in governance is regarded as a shared responsibility. - Encourages a culture of active participation, making democracy a lived reality rather than an abstract concept. 11. **Conclusion:** - The Model Youth Gram Sabha represents a foundational shift in civic education, aiming to instill the belief that local governance is as significant as national governance, enhancing the future of participatory democracy in India.
Polity and Governance03-Nov-2025
Student's Fight for Election Inclusion
### Key Points from the Article #### Student Union Elections and Age Restrictions - **Nominee:** Sandesh Shivkumar Sonkamble, 24, a final-year BA student at JNU. - **Disability:** Lives with Osteogenesis Imperfecta; categorized under locomotor disability. - **Age Restrictions:** Per Lyngdoh Committee guidelines: - Undergraduate candidates: 17-22 years - Postgraduate students: 24-25 years - PhD scholars: Up to 28 years - **Current Status:** Mr. Sonkamble's age exceeds eligibility limits set by these guidelines. #### Legal Framework and Rights - **Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016:** - Provides age relaxation up to 5 years for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) in higher education. - **Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT):** - Offers a relaxation of 10 years in central recruitment, 15 years for SC/ST candidates. #### Appeal Process - Mr. Sonkamble has appealed to JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit for relaxation of the age limit for candidates with disabilities. - JNUSU elections are conducted independently by a student-run Election Committee, which stated adherence to the guidelines is mandatory. - Officials indicated that judicial intervention might be necessary for a policy change. #### Social Background and Personal Challenges - **Family Background:** Comes from a Dalit family in Maharashtra’s Latur district; faced social stigma and financial hardships during early education. - **Education Journey:** Delayed schooling due to safety concerns; completed schooling at the age of 21. - **Living Conditions:** Currently uses an electric wheelchair for mobility on campus; requires assistance for navigating JNU's challenging terrain. #### Election Objectives - **Campaign Goals:** If elected, Mr. Sonkamble aims to enhance accessibility at JNU—implementing ramps, lifts, and improved pathways for disabled students. - **Representation Concern:** Highlights the lack of representation of students with disabilities in student unions and government, advocating for better visibility of their issues. #### Legal Action - Mr. Sonkamble is consulting lawyers to file a petition for greater age flexibility for students with disabilities in student elections, emphasizing that success could set a national precedent. ### Conclusion Mr. Sonkamble's situation underscores significant issues surrounding age restrictions for student electoral participation, accessibility for differently-abled persons in educational institutions, and the practical application of disability laws in India. His appeal and potential court action reflect ongoing challenges faced by individuals with disabilities within academic and political frameworks.
Polity and Governance02-Nov-2025
Deportation of Scholar Francesca Orsini
- **Subject Matter**: Francesca Orsini, an academic specializing in Hindi and Urdu literature and cultural studies, was deported from India for violating visa rules. - **Academic Background**: - Prof. Orsini obtained her BA in Hindi from Venice University and a doctorate from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London, focusing on the Hindi literary sphere of the 1920s and 1930s. - She has taught at Cambridge and has returned to SOAS as a professor emerita. - **Research Focus**: - Explored Hindi periodicals, oral traditions (e.g., Bhojpuri songs), and cultural dimensions of "Hinglish" (a mix of Hindi and English). - Her projects, such as 'North Indian Literary Culture and History', aimed to analyze early modern literature from a multilingual perspective. - **Notable Publications**: - Author of significant works, including "The Hindi Public Sphere" (2002) and "Print and Pleasure" (2009). - Edited volumes include "Love in South Asia: A Cultural History" (2006) and "Before the Divide: Hindi and Urdu Literary Cultures" (2010). - Her recent work includes an edited volume on Hinglish (2022). - **Deportation Circumstances**: - Entered India on a valid five-year tourist e-visa but was accused of "regularly violating" the terms of her visa, including conducting research and speaking at a university. - The Indian government stated that repeated visa violations can lead to blacklisting, reflecting a standard global immigration practice. - **Political Reactions**: - Some academics and political leaders expressed concern that her deportation signifies increasing government intolerance towards independent scholarship and cultural discourse on India's composite heritage. - Congress leader Jairam Ramesh linked this action to the current government's hostility toward serious scholarship. - **International Context**: - Orsini was attending a conference in China before arriving in India and had previously visited in October 2024. - The case highlights the intersection of academic freedom and immigration policy amid debates over cultural narratives in India. - **Long-Term Impact**: The deportation is considered detrimental to academic discourse and the understanding of Hindi and Urdu literature, given Orsini's contributions to the field of literary history. This summary encapsulates critical facts and academic contributions surrounding Francesca Orsini's deportation, emphasizing the implications for cultural scholarship and the discourse on governmental policies affecting academia.
Polity and Governance02-Nov-2025
Supreme Court Protects Attorney-Client Privilege
### Supreme Court Ruling on Attorney-Client Privilege **Judicial Judgment**: - The Supreme Court of India ruled on October 31 prohibiting law enforcement agencies from compelling legal professionals to disclose client communications. - The judgment was delivered by a bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai, Justices K Vinod Chandran, and N V Anjaria in a suo motu case initiated in June. **Key Legal Provisions**: - **Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA), 2023**: This legislation replaces the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, establishing that communications between legal advisers and clients are privileged. - **Section 132** of BSA specifies that advocates cannot disclose communications unless: 1. The client consents. 2. The communication pertains to illegal activities. 3. The advocate observes criminal activities during client engagement. - Advocates are exempt from testifying about these communications. - The Court emphasized the necessity to uphold the privilege laid out in Section 132, stating that attorneys cannot be summoned to disclose client information except in specific cases involving illegal actions. **Court's Directions**: - Investigating officers must provide specific facts justifying the need for attorney disclosure in summons and require written approval from a senior officer, not below the Superintendent of Police rank. - The privilege applies to lawyers engaged in litigation and advisory work but not to in-house legal advisers, although communications with in-house counsel remain protected under **Section 134** of the BSA. **Document Production Protocol**: - In criminal cases, courts can direct the production of documents while ensuring advocates' objections regarding privilege are considered. - In civil matters, documents must be submitted to the court instead of directly handed over to investigators. Both client and advocate must be notified, and confidentiality for materials belonging to other clients must be maintained. **Background**: - The ruling followed an incident where the Enforcement Directorate summoned two senior advocates concerning an investigation into Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOPs) associated with Care Health Insurance. - This summons was widely criticized by legal associations for undermining legal representation rights, prompting the Supreme Court's intervention. **Implications**: - The judgment asserts the autonomy of legal professionals, reinforcing their rights and the confidentiality of attorney-client communications as integral to preserving the administration of justice. ### Conclusion This significant ruling reaffirms the attorney-client privilege in India, highlighting the legal protections in place for communications between lawyers and their clients and the limitations on the power of investigative agencies.