22/11/2019 : The Hindu Newspaper Self Analysis 

 

Police staff asked to ‘tread cautiously’ on court premises

Context:

• Police personnel visiting courts with undertrials for hearings have been instructed by their senior officers to avoid any confrontation with lawyers or legal staff on court premises.

Background:

Recently, thousands of Delhi police personnel had laid siege to the force’s headquarters and staged a virtual revolt, sparked by two attacks on colleagues. One of the attacks led to at least 20 security personnel and several advocates being injured.

 

Avian botulism reason for bird deaths

Issue:

• Carcasses of close to 18,000 migratory birds have been found in Rajasthan’s Sambhar lake within a span of about 10 days.

Details:

• The discovery of thousands of bird carcasses in the area has raised concerns among ornithologists and environmentalists.
• The cause of the deaths, according to the Bikaner-based College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, is suspected to be avian botulism.
• Avian botulism is a neuro-muscular illness caused by a toxin that is produced by a bacterial strain.
• The illness is caused by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. It affects the nervous system of birds, leading to flaccid paralysis in their legs and wings and neck.
• The post-mortem of bird carcasses had concluded that bacterium Clostridium botulinum had entered from the soil into the meat of some dead birds.

Concerns:

• The lake is among the eight worst-rated wetlands in the country when it comes to ecosystem management, according to a draft report prepared by the environment ministry in consultation with several independent experts.
• Apart from Sambhar, the other Ramsar sites, rated on the lowest parameter was Loktak in Manipur and Deepor Beel in Assam.

Conclusion:

• In 2017, the Environment Ministry notified rules prohibiting changes in the land use of wetlands, barred industries close to wetlands and dumping of waste and sewage.
• It also asked state governments to set up a state wetlands authority to be headed by the Chief Minister for the protection of key terrestrial aquatic life systems.
• The health rating of the ecosystems is part of the process of strengthening the management of wetlands.
• The ratings must be used by the wetland authorities to priorities their conservation efforts – those rated low will need attention and better ecosystem services.

 

Governor sets 8-point administrative agenda

Context:

• In the backdrop of President’s Rule being imposed in the state of Maharashtra, the Governor has set an eight-point agenda for the disposal of official business to ensure smooth functioning of the administration.

Details:

• The Chief Secretary issued the orders, listing out the priorities of the administration, including matters pertaining to the transfer of officials, delegation of the power of ministers, and legislative, administrative and financial subjects.
• The communiqué from the Governor was issued under the powers conferred on him by Article 166 of the Constitution and circulated under the subject: ‘Disposal of Official Business During President’s Rule’.
• Topping the priority list are matters routed through the Council of Ministers. All matters which are required to be put up to the Council of Ministers under Schedule II of the Rules of Business and all such cases where ministers had to obtain orders of the Chief Minister, would now be routed through the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra to the Governor.
• All transfers earlier being done by the Chief Minister will be done by the Governor.
• Among other issues, matters pertaining to law and order will also be decided by the Chief Secretary and cases settled by ministers will be decided by the Governor with help from the Chief Secretary.

Article 166: Conduct of business of the Government of a State:

(1) All executive actions of the Government of a State shall be expressed to be taken in the name of the Governor.

(2) Orders and other instruments made and executed in the name of the Governor shall be authenticated in such manner as may be specified in rules to be made by the Governor, and the validity of an order on instruction which is so authenticated shall not be called in question on the ground that it is not an order or instrument made or executed by the Governor.

(3) The Governor shall make rules for the more convenient transaction of the business of the Government of the State, and for the allocation among Ministers of the said business in so far as it is not business with respect to which the Governor is by or under this Constitution required to act in his discretion.