1. Collegium system
- Context: Government, Opposition call for changing Collegium system.
- Both the Centre and the Opposition concurred on the need for an alternative to the present Collegium system of appointments.
Collegium system:
- It is the system of appointment and transfer of judges that has evolved through judgments of the SC.
- The SC collegium: It is headed by the CJI and comprises four other senior most judges of the court.
- HC Collegium: It is led by its Chief Justice and two other senior most judges of that court.
- Ordinarily case:
- one of the four senior-most puisne Judges of the Supreme Court would succeed the Chief Justice of India
- Situational: If the situation is such that the successor Chief Justice is not one of the four senior-most puisne Judges, he must invariably be made part of the collegium.
Issues with Collegium system:
- Extra-constitutional or non-constitutional body: brought in force by judgments of the Supreme Court.
- Non-Judge: There is no seat in the collegium for any non judge neither from the executive, the Bar etc.
- Opaqueness: lack of transparency.
- Nepotism: Scope for nepotism.
- Overlooks talent: Overlooks several talented junior judges and advocates.
Judges case:
- First Judges Case (1981): It declared that the “primacy” of the Chief Justice of India (CJI)’s recommendation on judicial appointments and transfers can be refused for “logical reasons.”
- The ruling gave the Executive primacy over the Judiciary in judicial appointments for the next 12 years.
- Second Judges Case (1993): SC introduced the Collegium system, holding that “consultation” really meant “concurrence”.
- It was not the CJI’s individual opinion, consultation with the two senior-most judges in the SC.
- Third Judges Case (1998): SC on President’s reference expanded the Collegium to a five-member body, comprising the CJI and four of his senior-most colleagues.
Transfer of judges:
- Article 222: It provides for the transfer of HC judges, including the Chief Justice. The President, after consultation with the CJI, may transfer a judge from one HC to any other HC and a compensatory allowance is provided to the transferred judge.
- Interpretation: The executive could transfer a judge, but only after consulting the CJI.
Prelims Special:
Q. Consider the following statements: (UPSC 2019)
- The 44th Amendment to the Constitution of India introduced an Article placing the election of the Prime Minister beyond judicial review.
- The Supreme Court of India struck down the 99th Amendment to the Constitution of India as being violative of the independence of judiciary.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (b)
2. Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries
- Context: The Finance Minister announced there would be no import duties on 35 capital goods used to make Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries and 28 items used in mobile phone battery making to boost domestic manufacturing.
Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs):
- They are a type of electric vehicle that runs solely on electric power stored in high-capacity batteries.
- They do not have an internal combustion engine (ICE) and produce zero tailpipe emissions.
- BEVs use electric motors to drive the wheels, providing instant torque and smooth acceleration.
- Battery Technology:
- BEVs rely on advanced battery technology, primarily Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries.
- Li-ion batteries offer high energy density, longer range, and improved performance
Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery:
Prelims special:
Q. Which one of the following pairs of metals constitutes the lightest metal and the heaviest metal, respectively? (UPSC 2008)
(a) Lithium and mercury
(b) Lithium and osmium
(c) Aluminium and osmium
(d) Aluminium and mercury
Ans: (b)
3. Boilers Act
- Context: The Boilers Bill, 2024 was introduced in Lok Sabha by the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry.
- It will repeal the Boilers Act, 1923.
Key Highlights of the bill:
- The Bill will ensure the safety of life and property of persons from the dangers of explosions of steam boilers.
- Regulation: Centre will constitute the Central Boilers Board to regulate the design, manufacture, erection and use of boiler and boiler components.
- Inspection: Inspections can be carried out by State-appointed Inspectors or authorized third parties.
- Ease of Doing Business (EoDB): Of the 7 offences in the erstwhile Act only 4 serious offences involving loss of life or property have been retained for criminal penalties.
- For all non-criminal offences ‘fine has been converted into ‘penalty to be levied through executive mechanism instead of courts as existed earlier.
Issues associated with Bill
- Safety Concerns: The state government can exempt areas from the Bill, raising doubts about ensuring safety in exempted zones.
- Limited Judicial Recourse: Decisions of the central government and state-appointed inspectors cannot be challenged in regular courts. Aggrieved individuals must file writ petitions in High Courts under Article 226 of the Constitution.
- Hindrance to EoDB: No timelines are set for inspections, or approvals for boiler alterations, repairs, or erection.
Boiler:
- A boiler refers to a vessel in which steam is generated under pressure.
- As of 2024, the country has about 40 lakh steam boilers.
- Boilers fall under the concurrent list of the Constitution.
Prelims special:
With reference to Boilers, Consider the following statements:
- A boiler refers to a vessel in which steam is generated under pressure.
- Boilers fall under the Central list of the constitution.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (a)
4. Third Battle of Panipat
- Context: Maharashtra Chief Minister said that the Third Battle of Panipat was a testament to the bravery of the Marathas and not a reminder of their defeat.
Third Battle of Panipat:
- In late 1759, Abdali, along with his Qizilbash and Afghan tribes, reached Lahore and Delhi, where he defeated smaller enemy forces.
- He was joined by the Muslims of Northern India, the Rohillas, and Shuja-ud-Daula.
- Ahmad Shah withdrew his army to Anupshahr, on the frontier of Rohilla territory, persuading Nawab of Oudh Shuja-ud-Daula to join his alliance against Marathas.
- Marathas Mobilize Against Afghan Threat: The Marathas, under the leadership of Sadashivrao Bhau, reacted to the Afghans’ return by assembling an army and moving towards the north.
- The Marathas achieved victory in the battle at Kunjpura against the Afghan garrison.
- During the next two months of the standoff, frequent clashes and confrontations occurred between units from both sides.
- After the Marathas were unable to stop Abdali’s forces from crossing the Yamuna River, they constructed defenses near Panipat to prevent his return to Afghanistan.
- Bhau’s Plan: Bhau decided to end the standoff. He planned to weaken the Afghan forces with cannon fire before using his cavalry and then moving his camp defensively toward Delhi for supplies.
- On January 13, 1761, the Marathas left their camp, moving south toward the Afghan encampment.
- Consequently, the Third Battle of Panipat took place on January 14, 1761.
Third Battle of Panipat Results
- The Third Battle of Panipat lasted several days and involved more than 125,000 troops.
- Ongoing clashes resulted in losses and gains for both sides.
- Ahmad Shah Durrani’s forces eventually won by breaking through several Maratha flanks.
- Approximately 60,000 to 70,000 soldiers lost their lives in the battle.
- The Third Battle of Panipat stopped Maratha’s northern advances and weakened their territories for about ten years.
Reasons Behind the Maratha Loss:
- Durrani’s forces had a larger and better-equipped army compared to the Marathas, whose lighter artillery struggled against the Afghans’ heavy guns.
- Furthermore, conflicts among Maratha leaders and the lack of support from other local rulers left them alone and far from their capital in Pune.
- Ahmad Shah Abdali was regarded as one of the best generals, with a strong knowledge of effective methods for winning battles.
- Following the Third Battle of Panipat, Ahmad Shah Abdali appointed Shah Alam II as the emperor of Delhi.
Prelims special:
Q. What was the immediate reason for Ahmad Shah Abdali to invade India and fight the third battle of Panipat?(UPSC 2010)
- He wanted to avenge the expulsion by Marathas of his viceroy Timur Shah from Lahore.
- The frustrated governor of Jalandhar Adina Beg Khan invited him to invade Punjab.
- He wanted to punish the Mughal administration for nonpayment of the revenues of the Chahar Mahal (Gujarat, Aurangabad, Sialkot and Pasrur).
- He wanted to annex the fertile plains of Punjab up to the borders of Delhi in his kingdom.
Ans: (a)
5. Wild elephants
- Context: The Forest Department is working out a plan for the capture and rehabilitation of wild elephants through their “soft-release” into the wild.
- This involves releasing them in a phased manner in the Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary.
Elephant:
Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary:
- It is situated in the midst of the Western Ghats region of Karnataka.
- The reserve is unique as it is nestled within several hill ranges. The habitat has a good population of elephants and is also an Elephant Reserve.
- It boasts of a substantial tiger population and as such the sanctuary was declared the 25th Project Tiger reserve of India in 1998.
- It is drained by the river Bhadra and its tributaries.
- It has dry-deciduous, moist-deciduous, shola, and semi-evergreen patches.
Prelims Special:
Q. With reference to Indian elephants, consider the following statements: (2020)
- The leader of an elephant group is a female.
- The maximum gestation period can be 22 months.
- An elephant can normally go on calving till the age of 40 years only.
- Among the States in India, the highest elephant population is in Kerala.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 4 only
- 3 only
- 1, 3 and 4 only
Ans: (a)
6. Anti-defection law
- Context: The Supreme Court asked if constitutional courts cannot direct Speakers to decide disqualification petitions filed with them under the Tenth Schedule (anti-defection law) of the Constitution.
Anti Defection Law:
- The anti-defection law under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, was enacted to curb frequent floor-crossing by legislators.
- Its purpose was to bring stability to governments by discouraging legislators from changing parties.
- It sets the provisions for disqualification of elected members on the grounds of defection to another political party.
- It allows a group of MP/MLAs to join (i.e., merge with) another political party without inviting the penalty for defection.
- It does not penalize political parties for encouraging or accepting defecting legislators.
- The 91st Constitutional Amendment Act, 2003, changed this and now at least two-thirds of the members of a party must be in favor of a “merger” for it to have validity in the eyes of the law.
- The members disqualified under the law can stand for elections from any political party for a seat in the same House.
- The decision on questions as to disqualification on ground of defection are referred to the Chairman or the Speaker of such House, which is subject to ‘Judicial review’.
- The law does not provide a timeframe within which the presiding officer has to decide a defection case.
Grounds of Disqualification:
Prelims special:
Q. Which one of the following Schedules of the Constitution of India contains provisions regarding anti-defection? (UPSC 2014)
(a) Second Schedule
(b) Fifth Schedule
(c) Eighth Schedule
(d) Tenth Schedule
Ans: (d)