Supreme Court to pronounce verdict on constitutionality of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act
The petitioners had questioned in court why Assam alone, among the border States, had been singled out to implement Section 6A
Context:The Supreme Court of India is set to pronounce its verdict on the constitutionality of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955. Section 6A, introduced in the aftermath of the Assam Accord, provides special provisions for immigrants who entered Assam from Bangladesh before certain cutoff dates. This judgment will have significant implications for Assam, as well as broader issues of migration, citizenship, and demographic change.
Legal and Political Implications:
- The case examines whether Section 6A of the Citizenship Act disproportionately affects Assam’s demographic makeup, cultural identity, and security compared to other northeastern states.
- The court’s decision may impact similar immigration issues in other border states and fuel ongoing debates around the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Geopolitical Concerns:
- Illegal Migration from Bangladesh: Assam shares a 263 km porous border with Bangladesh, making it a key entry point for migrants. Other states like West Bengal, Meghalaya, and Tripura also face similar challenges.
- Border Fencing Issues: The government has struggled to fully secure the border due to natural and logistical challenges, with West Bengal’s land acquisition policies cited as a major hurdle.
Supreme Court’s Focus:
- The court made it clear that its ruling would be restricted to Section 6A, excluding the NRC.
- It sought evidence on how benefits given to migrants from Bangladesh between 1966 and 1971 impacted Assamese identity and led to demographic changes.
Conclusion: The Supreme Court’s verdict on Section 6A will address longstanding questions regarding the Assam Accord and its implications for citizenship and migration policies. The judgement will also set a precedent for how the country deals with immigration-related issues in the future.
Reimagining access to justice
In a nation where ‘justice for all’ has long been a constitutional dream, Third-Party Litigation Funding might help turn it into reality
Introduction
- In India, where “justice for all” is enshrined as a constitutional dream, Third-Party Litigation Funding (TPLF) is emerging as a potential game-changer.
- By allowing external investors to fund legal cases in exchange for a share of the winnings, TPLF could democratize access to justice, particularly for underprivileged groups unable to afford the high costs of litigation
Key Concepts
- Concepts Third-Party Litigation Funding (TPLF): A financing arrangement where a third-party investor provides funds for litigation in exchange for a percentage of the case’s eventual settlement or award.
- Landmark Judgment: The Supreme Court of India’s verdict in Bar Council of India v. A.K. Balaji approved TPLF, barring lawyers from funding such cases, and referred to it as a “potential equaliser in the courtroom.”
Benefits of TPLF
- Access to Justice for All: TPLF provides a lifeline for individuals and groups lacking financial resources, enabling them to pursue legal remedies. It could help: ● Small shopkeepers fighting large corporations. ● Tribal communities challenging polluting industries. ● Workers taking legal action against unfair treatment.
- Revitalising Public Interest Litigation (PIL): TPLF could reinvigorate PILs, especially in areas like consumer rights, environmental protection, and social justice.
- Specialised Fields: TPLF may prove crucial in cases involving complex fields like medical malpractice and intellectual property rights (IPR), where expert testimonies are expensive but vital.
Concerns and Challenges
- Cherry-picking Profitable Cases: Funders might prefer cases with higher monetary returns, potentially sidelining socially significant yet less lucrative cases.
- Funders’ Influence on Case Strategy: The level of control that funders exert over litigation strategies may lead to ethical dilemmas, necessitating regulation to safeguard litigants’ autonomy.
- Lack of Comprehensive National Framework: States like Maharashtra and Gujarat have recognized TPLF, but there is no nationwide regulation to ensure ethical and financial standards.
Conclusion:TPLF can improve justice access in India, needing regulations to ensure balance and judicial integrity.
Nobel Prize for microRNA find underscores RNA’s primacy in biology
When Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun won the Nobel Prize last week, 581 clinical trials involving miRNA had been registered in the U.S. alone
Introduction: The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024 was pioneering discovery of microRNA (miRNA) and its critical role in gene regulation. This discovery has far-reaching implications for human health, particularly in cancer and genetic diseases, underscoring RNA’s increasing relevance in biology. Despite early setbacks in clinical applications, the discovery of miRNA has marked a paradigm shift in molecular biology.
Inside the underground lab in China tasked with solving a physics mystery
China’s JUNO will soon start gathering data on neutrinos, a product of nuclear reactions, to help solve one of the biggest mysteries in particle physics
Overview: China’s Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) is a key project that will explore the mysteries surrounding neutrinos—subatomic particles that pass through matter effortlessly. Understanding the mass hierarchy of neutrinos is critical for unlocking secrets of the early universe. JUNO’s development is in competition with other neutrino observatories, including the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) in the United States.
What does the Global Hunger Index 2024 state about India? | Explained
Why has the Ministry of Women and Child Development raised concerns over the data collection method?
Overview: The Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2024 reveals a serious hunger situation in India, ranking it 105th among 127 countries with a score of 27.3. The GHI uses four primary indicators to assess hunger: undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting, and child mortality. The Ministry of Women and Child Development raised concerns regarding the data collection methodology, emphasizing the role of the Poshan Tracker.
Centre increases MSP for rabi crops for 2025-26, wheat sees 6% hike
In the current Rabi Marketing Season (2024-25), the government procured 26.6 million tonnes of wheat, benefitting 22 lakh farmers.
Introduction: The Union Government has announced the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for six key Rabi crops for the 2025-26 marketing season. Wheat, being the country’s second-largest crop in terms of area, witnessed a 6.59% increase in MSP, reflecting the government’s efforts to ensure fair prices for farmers.
Climate change impact harsher on poorer farmers in India: FAO report
FAO recommends enhanced social security net for all, Niti Aayog member says India doing its best to deal with climate change.
Overview: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently released a report, “The Unjust Climate: Measuring the Impacts of Climate Change on Rural Poor, Women, and Youth”, highlighting the disproportionate effects of climate change on poorer farmers, particularly in India. This analysis sheds light on how climate-induced events such as heat stress and floods intensify poverty and inequality in rural farming communities.
Wildlife Board clears 5 key road stretches in Ladakh including one to Daulat Beg Oldie near LAC
The Ministry has proposed to build culverts and bridges for the safe passage of wildlife crossing on these stretches, according to submissions made to the NBWL.
Introduction: The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has approved five critical road projects in Ladakh, focusing on improving strategic infrastructure near the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The roads, crucial for defense and civilian purposes, pass through ecologically sensitive areas, necessitating measures to protect local wildlife.
Abject failure: On India’s Global Hunger Index ranking
India’s ranks 105 out of 127 countries in the Global Hunger Index, 2024
Overview: The 2024 Global Hunger Index (GHI) reveals India’s disconcerting ranking of 105 out of 127 countries, indicating serious levels of hunger. This assessment places India in the company of nations facing significant challenges in food security and nutrition.