NEWS:SC says judge’s transfer is not related to ‘rumours’,

GS-2: Polity & Governance – Judiciary, Judicial Accountability, Collegium System

ISSUE:

• Justice Yashwant Varma’s transfer from Delhi HC to Allahabad HC led to public speculation linked to an “incident” at his official residence.
• Reports suggested a large amount of cash was found after a fire broke out, prompting Supreme Court’s clarification.
• SC Collegium stated transfer proposal was based solely on seniority and procedural norms, unrelated to the incident.
• In-house enquiry into the “incident” initiated by Delhi HC Chief Justice; report to be reviewed by CJI.
• Process ensures exclusion of bias/favouritism; confidential to protect judge’s integrity
• Bar Association criticized transfer as repatriation to “trash bin”; called for dignity and transparency in such actions.

In-House Enquiry Mechanism

• Referenced 2015 SC judgment: Two-stage process for probing judges:
  • Prima facie ascertainment by HC CJ.
  • If required, CJI forms a 3-member committee for deeper probe.
• Emphasis on natural justice and ensuring fair opportunity for defense.

Constitutional Protection for judges:

• Article 121 of the Constitution prohibits parliamentary discussion on the conduct of Supreme Court or High Court judges, except when a motion is made for their removal.
  • Article 211 of the Constitution prohibits state legislatures from discussing the conduct of Supreme Court or High Court judges in the discharge of their duties.

Difficult Impeachment Process:

• Article 124(4) of the Constitution requires an impeachment motion to be supported by a majority of the total membership and at least two-thirds of members present and voting in each House.
• Narrow Definition: The grounds of removal are proved misbehaviour or incapacity.Misbehaviour under Article 124(4) of the Constitution is a high standard, covering corruption, lack of integrity, and moral turpitude.
• NEWS:‘Delimitation meet the start of historic movement
• GS-2 GOVERNANCE
• ISSUE:
• Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday said if Tamil Nadu and other States lost representation in Parliament owing to delimitation, it would strike at the very foundation of federalism.
• Said delimitation will erode the essence of democracy itself.
• “This is more than a meeting. It is the beginning of a movement that will shape the future of our country.
• Together, we will achieve #FairDelimitation!”
• .
• extend his warmest welcome to the leaders from Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal and Punjab who are joining us for the Joint Action Committee meeting on #FairDelimitation.
• DELIMITATION:Delimitation in India refers to the process of redrawing the boundaries of parliamentary and assembly constituencies to ensure equal representation based on population changes. It is a critical aspect of India’s democratic framework, as it ensures that each vote carries roughly the same weight

Delimitation Commission

• Appointment:
  • The Commission is appointed by the President of India and works in collaboration with the Election Commission of India.
• Composition:
  • Retired Supreme Court judge
  • Chief Election Commissioner
  • Respective State Election Commissioners
• Functions:
  • To determine the number and boundaries of constituencies to make the population of all constituencies nearly equal.
  • To identify seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, wherever their population is relatively large.
  • Powers:
  • In case of a difference of opinion among members of the Commission, the opinion of the majority prevails.
  • The Delimitation Commission in India is a high-power body whose orders have the force of law and cannot be called in question before any court
• Constitutional Provisions:
• Under Article 82, the Parliament enacts a Delimitation Act after every Census.
• Under Article 170, States also get divided into territorial constituencies as per Delimitation Act after every Census

NEWS:CM to launch scheme to help artisans excel in craft making

GS-2 GOVERNANCE

• Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will soon launch the Kalaignar Kaivinai Thittam
• It has been designed to help artisans excel in craft making, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu said on Friday.
• 7,297 applications had been received for inclusion in the scheme.
• The outlay for the scheme was ₹138 crore, and the subsidy component was ₹28 crore, he said.

 Kalaignar Kaivinai Thittam scheme

• It aims to assist artisans and craftspersons aged 35 and above
• with relevant experience by providing loan assistance of up to ₹3 lakh, along with a 25% subsidy capped at ₹50,000.
• Subsidy is granted after completing skill and entrepreneurship training and is proportional to loan tranches.
• Loans have a 90% credit guarantee cover and 5% interest subvention reimbursement.
• The scheme targets new or diversified activities, not business expansions, and has no income ceiling.
• Applicants must not have received a subsidy exceeding ₹1.5 lakh from Tamil Nadu schemes in the past five years.

NEWS:There is progress on GM food crops, says official

GS-3: Science & Technology, Environment – GM Crops, Bio-Technology, Bioeconomy

Current Status

• GM mustard approval (2022) under challenge; SC to hear petitions from April 15.
• DBT Secretary: Progress in GM tech despite legal scrutiny; emphasized need to view science with today’s lens.

Policy & Regulation

• BioE3 policy aims to boost bio-agriculture, currently just 8.1% of India’s $165.7 billion bio-economy.
• GM cotton is only cultivated GM crop; mustard under conditional approval.

Safety Concerns

• GM crops face objections from activist groups citing safety; Supreme Court to review scientific validity and national policy.

GM Mustard Crop (DMH-11)

• DMH-11 is developed by Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (Delhi University).
  • It paves the way for the commercialisation of the country’s first GM food crop.
  • GM mustard has not been released for commercial cultivation yet.
• DMH-11 is a result of a crossing between two mustard varieties (‘Varuna’ and East European ‘Early Heera-2’).
  • This is difficult to do by conventional breeding because mustard is self-pollinating, i.e., the pollen from the male part pollinates and fertilises the female part of the same plant.
• This cross has been done after introducing the barnase and barstar gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus amyloliquefaciense.