• NEWS:Protests continue in Manipur, highways blocked
• GS-2 GOVERNANCE
• Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts affcted as Kuki-Zo people protest against free movement plan on National Highways no. 2 and 37
• Imposition of president rule
• The Centre has imposed the President’s rule in Manipur under Article 356 of the Indian Constitution and suspended the state assembly after the resignation of its Chief Minister.
• Article 365: If a state fails to comply with the Centre’s directions, the President can declare that its government cannot function constitutionally. 
•  
• Article 355 mandates the Central government to ensure that every state functions as per the Constitution.

About : free movement regime

• Historical Context:
  • Much of India’s northeast region was under Burmese occupation until the Treaty of Yandaboo in 1826 established the current India-Myanmar boundary.
    • The Treaty of Yandabo was signed by General Sir Archibald Campbell on behalf of the British and Governor of Legaing Maha Min Hla Kyaw Htin on behalf of the Burmese.
      • It ended the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824-1826).
    However, the border separated communities with shared ethnicity and culture, including the Nagas in Nagaland and Manipur, as well as the Kuki-Chin-Mizo communities in Manipur and Mizoram, without their agreement.
  • Currently, India and Myanmar share a 1,643 km border across Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, of which only 10 km is fenced, in Manipur.

Free Movement Regime:

The FMR was established in 2018 as part of India’s Act East policy, promoting cross-border movement up to 16 km without a visa.

• Individuals residing at the border need a one-year border pass for stays lasting up to two weeks in the neighbouring country.
  • It aimed to facilitate local border trade, improve access to education and healthcare for border residents, and strengthen diplomatic ties.

National Highways no. 2 and 37

National Highway 2 (NH-2) was part of the old National Highway 37, and NH-2 now connects Dibrugarh in Assam to Tuipang in Mizoram, passing through Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram.     

• Old NH-37 and Current NH-2:
• Before the renumbering of national highways, NH-2 was part of the old national highways 37, 61, 39, 150, and 54. 

Route of Current NH-2:

• The current NH-2, which is 1325.6 km (823.7 mi) long, runs from Dibrugarh in Assam to Tuipang in Mizoram. 

States Passed Through:

• This national highway passes through the Indian states of Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram
• NEWS:Madhav National Park becomes India’s 58th Tiger Reserve

GS-3 ENVIRONMENT

• Located in Shivpuri district in the Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh
• The newly added Tiger Reserve is also the ninth from the State to get the recognition.
• the reserve has a population of five tigers at present, including two cubs born recently.
• Three tigers, including two females, were introduced to the Madhav National Park in 2023 as part of the tiger reintroduction project in the State
• Madhav National Park
  • overs an area of approximately 354 square kilometers.Madhav National Park is a part of the Upper Vindhya Hills located in the Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh .
  • This park was the hunting ground of the Mughal emperors and the Maharajas of Gwalior. It got the status of a national park in the year 1959. 
• Tiger Corridor: 
  • The park falls within one of the 32 major tiger corridors in the country, which are managed through the Tiger Conservation Plan. The Tiger Conservation Plan is implemented under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 .

Flora:

• The park is characterized by dry deciduous forests, grasslands, and rocky hills.
• Common tree species include khair, salai, kardhai, and dhawda

1. Fauna:
   1. Mammals: The park is home to species like chital (spotted deer), sambar, nilgai (blue bull), chinkara (Indian gazelle), leopard, sloth bear, and wild boar.
   2. Birds: It is a haven for birdwatchers, with species like painted storks, white ibis, kingfishers, and vultures.
   3. Aquatic Life: The park has several lakes, including Sakhya Sagar and Madhav Sagar, which support a variety of aquatic life and attract migratory birds.

PROJECT TIGER

• Project Tiger is a wildlife conservation initiative in India that was launched in 1973.
• The primary objective of Project Tiger is to ensure the survival and maintenance of the tiger population in their natural habitats by creating dedicated Tiger Reserves.
• Starting with only nine reserves covering 9,115 sq. km, the project marked a paradigm shift in wildlife conservation efforts.
• Now the reserves reach to 58  with increase in tiger population also
• NEWS:Centre awaits prospective names from High Courts to be appointed ad hoc judges
• Considering a backlog of over 18 lakh criminal cases, the Supreme Court on January 30 allowed the High Courts to appoint ad hoc judges, not exceeding 10% of the court’s total sanctioned strength.
• Ad-hoc judges, appointed under Article 224A of the Indian Constitution, are retired judges temporarily reappointed to High Courts to address case backlogs, with the Supreme Court recently easing conditions for such appointments
• Ad-hoc Judges:

Temporary Appointments:

• Ad-hoc judges are retired judges who are temporarily reappointed to a High Court to help clear pending cases. 

Purpose:

• They are appointed on a temporary basis for a specific purpose, like addressing case backlogs or filling vacancies. 

Powers:

• They have the same powers as sitting judges but serve only for a limited time. 

Constitutional Basis:

• Article 224A of the Constitution allows for the appointment of retired judges on an ad-hoc basis. 

Supreme Court’s Role:

• The Supreme Court has the authority to issue directions regarding the appointment of ad-hoc judges. 

Recent Developments:

• The Supreme Court recently relaxed conditions for the appointment of ad-hoc judges, allowing High Courts to appoint them even if vacancies are not more than 20% of the sanctioned strength. 

Appointment:

• Chief Justice’s Recommendation: The Chief Justice of a High Court can request a former judge to act as a judge of the High Court. 
• Presidential Consent: The appointment requires the consent of the President of India. 
• Memorandum of Procedure: The detailed procedure for such appointments is outlined in the 1998 Memorandum of Procedure (MoP). 
• Number of Appointments: Each High Court may appoint 2 to 5 ad-hoc judges, not exceeding 10% of its sanctioned strength
• Bench Composition: Ad-hoc judges will sit in a bench presided over by a sitting judge of the High Court and decide pending criminal appeals. 
• Tenure: Ad-hoc judges typically serve for two to three years. 

NOTE:The procedure for appointing ad hoc judges follows a similar path as regular judges, except the President does not sign a warrant of appointment but gives assent.

• NEWS:Hindu temple vandalised in U.S. with anti-India graffiti

GS-3 INTERNATIONAL RELATION

India calls for stringent action over the Chino Hills city incident and seeks adequate security to places of worship

Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills city of San Bernardino County in California faced desecration

Chino Hills borders Los Angeles County

It would harness the INDIA US faith and relation

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir:

• It is a Hindu temple complex located in Chino Hills, in southwestern San Bernardino County in southern California
• The complex is the first earthquake-proof Mandir in the world

• a traditional Hindu mandir that was completed in 2012
• Situated on a 20-acre site with a 91-foot lotus-shaped pond, the complex has a cultural center, gymnasium and classrooms
• This mandir uses a solar power system to generate electricity and reduce adverse effects on the environment
• MAINS QUESTION:

            explain the complexsities in Indian judiciary system and the need of ad-hoc judges to handle it.