Current Affairs Feed (The Hindu)

Priyank.Pamkar · January 5, 2017, 6:57am

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vaishnav78 · January 19, 2017, 12:44pm

Jallikattu- What is it? Why is there a controversy around it?

Jallikattu is a sport where a bull is chased by participants in an open arena. Jallikattu is also called Eru Thazhuvuthal meaning ‘Embracing a Bull’. The sport is played during Pongal, the Tamil harvest festival. The aim of the sport is to subdue the bull with bare hands. Bulls which are subdued are used for domestic purposes like agriculture and bulls which are untamed are used for breeding. It involves native Indian breed like Bos Indicus. Bulls were included in a list (notification) of animals which have been banned from being used by Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in 2011. This decision was challenged in Supreme Court (SC) in 2014. But SC upheld the Ministry decision to ban jallikattu. This banned the sport for close to two years. In 2016, the Ministry modified its earlier notification, allowing use of bulls despite the existing ban continuing as per SC order. The issue is in news because people in Tamil Nadu are protesting the ban by openly defying SC orders and conducting the sport.

Arguments supporting Jallikattu

· It is a cultural aspect of people rooted in their customs and traditions. Indus Valley seals depict men taming bulls.

· People are free to practice their customs and traditions in a democratic country.

· People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), face of those opposing the sport , does not understand Indian/native traditions and customs.

· Bulls of native breed are used in the sport which are breed and trained with special attention. The untamed bulls are used for breeding. This way the sport helps in protection of native breed preventing extinct of the specie.

Argument opposing Jallikattu

· After Environment Ministry’s 2011 notification was challenged, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) was given the responsibility to file a detailed report.

· In its report, AWFI testified that bulls were beaten, kicked, chilly-powder rubbed into their eyes, their humps and horns were seized and twisted, and that the tails of the animals were routinely pulled and twisted, leading to painful injuries and broken tails. Thus, SC banned the sport on basis of AWFI report.

· The aim to preserve native breed can be achieved by public participation without hurting the animal through sports.

vaishnav78 · January 23, 2017, 3:04pm

120th Birth Anniversary of Subhash Chandra Bose (Born Jan 23, 1897)

· Influenced by ideas of Swami Vivekananda and Aurobindo Ghosh

· Mobilized All-Bengal Young Men’s Conference in 1920s towards freedom struggle

· 1938- Haripura Session, President of Congress. Bose wanted to take advantage of Britain’s political instability and revolt against them using violent means if necessary. According to Bose, this would ensure freedom.

· Organised the National Planning Commission (NPC), a precursor to Planning Commission formed in independent India. NPC would formulate a plan for industrialization of India.

· 1939- following fallout with other members of Congress, Bose established his own political organisation called “Forward Bloc”. He also started a newspaper by the same number.

· Was put under house arrest by British for his views. He escaped in 1941 to Berlin. · Established “Free India Centre” in 1941 from Berlin.

· 1943- Bose travelled to Japan and established Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauz. Also started “Azad Hind Radio”. It was made by Indian resident in South East Asia.

· With help of Japanese, Bose intended to launch an armed assault on British forces in North East India. But suffered a defeat as Japanese withdrew support.

· He later died in a plane crash in 1945.

vaishnav78 · January 25, 2017, 3:46pm

HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY!!

As we celebrate completion of 66 years of adopting the Constitution on January 26, 2017, below are two issues which brought to light some constitutional provisions.

- a bull taming sport played in Tamil Nadu received widespread news coverage in last week. It is important to understand the constitutional background of this issue.

· An ordinance was promulgated to help pass a bill allowing Jallikattu. The ordinance is passed under Article 213, which authorizes Governor of a state to do so. This happens with prior approval of President.

· The ordinance needs to be passed by legislature of the state within six weeks of the ordinance coming into effect.

President Pranab Mukherji disagreed with suggestions of death penalty forwarded by Ministry of Home Affairs to convicts of Bara massacre case, 1992. The death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment by the President. Here is how the President did it-

· Article 74 states that President is bound to act according to advice of Prime minister and his council of minister.

· But in Shatrughan Chauhan case (2014), the Supreme Court (SC) had said that if there is inordinate delay in disposing of a mercy petition, then the sentence may be commuted. The accused of Bara Massacre were given the sentence in 2000.

· In the 2014 order, SC also said that under Article 141, law declared by SC shall be binding on everybody in the territory of India. This includes, Government and President.

· Thus, President followed this order and commuted the sentence.

· This is being heralded as a first-ever by any President.

· In 2013, President Mukherji had expressed strong reservations on an ordinance, “Convicted Legislators’ Protection Ordinance”. The government later withdrew the ordinance. This instance was called “Presidential Differential.”

These two recent incidents highlight why the Constitution is an important document.