Current affairs - July 9, 2016
India- South Africa MoUs:
Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the India, paid an official visit to the Republic of South Africa from 7 to 9 July 2016.
President of the Republic of South Africa H.E. Mr. Jacob Zuma
Memoranda of Understanding were signed by the two sides:
- Memorandum of Understanding on Information and Communication Technology
- Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of Grassroots Innovation in the area of Science and Technology
- Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism; and
- Programme of Cultural Cooperation
MoUs between India and Mozambique
Three agreements were signed in areas of drug trafficking, pulse
trading and sports between India and Mozambique during PM Modi’s recent visit
to the country.
The three Memoranda of Understanding (MoU)
are:
1. On reduction of drug
trafficking and psychotropic substances and related materials.
2. On cooperation in the field of
youth affairs and sports.
3. On long term agreement for
purchase of pulses.
Fat tax:
Kerala has announced a 14.5% “fat tax” on pizzas, burgers,
sandwiches and tacos sold through branded outlets. This announcement is in sync
with the World Health Organization’s advocacy of using fiscal tools to promote
healthy eating.
SC ends impunity for armed forces in disturbed
areas
Supreme Court has ruled that armed personnel cannot just shoot to
kill militants who create internal disturbances under the presumption that they
are enemies, and would face criminal prosecution if found using excessive force
even in areas where the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is in force.
- The verdict is likely to have far reaching consequences in places where security forces have been insulated by AFSPA to carry out counter-insurgency operations.
Important observations made by the Court:
- Indefinite deployment of armed forces in the name of restoring normalcy under AFSPA “would mock at our democratic process”, apart from symbolising a failure of the civil administration and the armed forces.
- It does not matter whether the victim was a common person or a militant or a terrorist, nor does it matter whether the aggressor was a common person or the state. The law is the same for both and is equally applicable to both.
- There is no concept of absolute immunity from trial by a criminal court if an Army man has committed an offence.
SC to consider whether NHRC is ‘toothless tiger’
The Supreme Court has proposed to consider the grievance of the
National Human Right’s Commission (NHRC) that it has become a “toothless
tiger”. NHRC had also recently complained about difficulties in discharging its
duties, including non-cooperation from State governments and lack of staff.
- The court has noted NHRC’s submission that “it was helpless in taking any coercive measures since it has no power to take action against persons or authorities who do not follow the guidelines laid down by it nor does it have power to give directions or pass orders but can only make recommendations.”
- The matter was considered by the court while dealing with a PIL petition on extra-judicial killings in militancy infested Manipur and the plea for repealing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.
BIS- norm for Solar water heater:
Ministry
of New and Renewable Energy is working on a ‘quality order’ to make it
compulsory for all solar water heaters installed in buildings to be certified
by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
- This follows a BIS announcement on the quality standards for evacuated tube collector-based solar water heaters, which have rapidly become the design of choice for such water heaters.
