- SC ORDERS TREE CENSUS, PRUNES TREE OFFICERS POWER TO OKAY FEELING
SUBJECT: ENVIRONMENT
- The Supreme Court directed the Tree Authority to conduct a census of the existing trees in the national capital and pruned the authority of Tree Officers to grant permission for felling trees, noting that cutting them in Delhi will only be allowed in exceptional cases or in times of utmost necessity.
- In India, the preservation and management of trees are primarily governed by state-specific legislation and authorities. While some states have established dedicated Tree Authorities, others manage tree conservation through their Forest Departments or similar agencies.
- State-Specific Tree Authorities and Legislation:
- Delhi: The Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994, led to the formation of the Tree Authority, responsible for tree preservation, conducting censuses, and overseeing planting and transplantation activities.
- Maharashtra: The Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975, mandates the establishment of Tree Authorities in urban areas. These bodies are tasked with protecting and preserving trees, conducting tree censuses, and regulating tree felling and planting.
- Karnataka: The Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976, provides for the preservation of trees in the state by regulating their felling and promoting afforestation. The Act requires obtaining permission from the Tree Officer for felling any tree
2. REALITY CHECK ON SRILANKA’S TAMIL QUESTION
SUBJECT: BILATERAL
- President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s India Visit: His first state visit to India emphasized strengthening ties.
- Indian leaders urged Sri Lanka to fulfill Tamil aspirations and implement the 13th Amendment, though it was not explicitly mentioned in the joint statement.
- Tamil Question and 13th Amendment: Tamil aspirations for autonomy remain unresolved.
- The 13th Amendment, which provides for provincial councils, has seen limited implementation.
- Tamil leaders continue to demand clarity and action from the Sri Lankan government.
- Current State of Tamil Autonomy: Provincial councils remain defunct, and Tamil demands for autonomy are unmet.
- Skepticism persists regarding Sri Lanka’s commitment to delivering reforms
3. CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY AND AN OBTUSE INDIAN STANCE
SUBJECT: SOCIAL ISSUES
- UNGA Resolution (2024): The UN General Assembly adopted are solution to negotiate a treaty on Crimes Against Humanity (CAH).
- This treaty seeks to address gaps in the accountability framework and strengthen international legal responses to CAH
- Gaps in Accountability: CAH, unlike genocide and war crimes, is not governed by a dedicated treaty.
- Currently covered under the Rome Statute, CAH focuses on specific crimes (e.g., extermination, torture, rape) as part of widespread attacks on civilians.
- A dedicated CAH treaty would ensure broader accountability, including holding states responsible under international law
- India’s Position: India is not a party to the Rome Statute and opposes ICC jurisdiction.
- India argues that national legislation and courts are better suited to handle CAH.
- Concerns include duplication of existing treaties and the exclusion of terror-related acts and nuclear weapons from the treaty.
- Domestic Legal Challenges: India lacks domestic laws addressing international crimes like CAH.
- Recent legislative amendments missed the opportunity to incorporate such crimes into Indian law, as highlighted in the Sajjan Kumar judgment (2018)
4. U.S URGES COURT TO REJECT PLEA OF RANA AGAINST EXTRADITION
SUBJECT: NATIONAL
- The U.S. government has requested the Supreme Court to dismiss a petition by Tahawwur Rana opposing his extradition to India. Rana, jailed in Los Angeles, is wanted in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and was previously associated with Pakistani-American terrorist David Headley. Despite his claims of acquittal in the U.S. federal court on similar charges, the Indian government argues that the charges differ, particularly regarding forgery and conspiracy
- According to Supreme Court of India, Extradition is the delivery on the part of one State to another of those whom it is desired to deal with for crimes of which they have been accused or convicted and are justifiable in the Courts of the other State.
- An Extradition request for an accused can be initiated in the case of under-investigation, under-trial and convicted criminals.
- Extradition framework in India The Extradition Act 1962(substantially modified in 1993)consolidated the law relating to the extradition of criminal fugitive from India to foreign states and it is administered by Ministry of External Affairs
5. EKLAVYA SCHOOLS STRUGGLE TO MEET 5% PVTG SUB-QUOTA DROUPOUTS ON THE RISE
SUBJECT: EDUCATION
- About four years after the Centre introduced a sub-quota of 5% for the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in admissions to Eklavya Model Residential Schools for tribal students across the country, government data show that they are struggling to meet this quota. Just 3.4% of students in these schools now are from these communities.
- PVTGs are more vulnerable among the tribal groups. Due to this factor, more developed and assertive tribal groups take a major chunk of the tribal development funds, because of which PVTGs need more funds directed for their development.
- In this context, in 1975, the Government of India declared 52 tribal groups as PVTGs on the recommendation of the Dhebar Commission.
- Currently, there are 75 PVTGs out of 705 Scheduled Tribes
