Addapedia Odisha | Daily Current Affairs | 02 September 2024 | Download PDF

• President Droupadi Murmu highlighted the need to eliminate the “culture of adjournments” in courts.

Key points:

“Black Coat Syndrome”

• President Murmu introduced the term “black coat syndrome” to describe the high stress experienced by ordinary citizens in courtrooms, likening it to the “white coat syndrome” observed in medical settings. 
• She expressed concern that the lengthy duration of cases, which can span from 10 to 32 years, erodes public trust in the judiciary. 
• This persistent delay contributes to the overall problem of case pendency.

Chief Justice of India’s Remarks

Addressing Complacency:

• Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud stated that complacency is unacceptable in the judiciary.
• Justice delivery is crucial, particularly for vulnerable groups.
• National average disposal rate of cases is 95%, but tackling case backlogs remains challenging.
• Urged for an increase in disposal rates beyond 71% to achieve a 100% disposal rate.

• The Union Government has mandated certain provisions for  LGBTQIA+ couples. 
• All States and Union Territories (UTs) are directed to ensure that no discrimination occurs in this process.

Key provisions:

• Ration Cards: LGBTQIA+ couples must be recognized as members of the same household.
• Body Claiming: Partners can claim each other’s bodies when next of kin is unavailable.
• Medical Interventions: Guidelines for intersex children and sexual differentiation disorders.
• Mental Health: Developing guidelines for the mental well-being of LGBTQIA+ individuals.
• Banking Rights: LGBTQIA+ couples can open joint bank accounts and name each other as beneficiaries.
• Prison Rights: Advisories issued to protect LGBTQIA+ individuals from violence and harassment during prison visits.

 LGBTQIA+ : 

• LGBTQIA+ is an acronym that represents lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual.

Status of LGBTQIA+ Rights and Recognition in India:

• In 2014, the Supreme Court recognized transgender individuals as a third gender, granting them the right to identify as such in official documents. 
• In 2018, the Supreme Court of India struck down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, which criminalized consensual homosexual acts. 
• The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act was enacted in 2019, aimed at safeguarding the rights of transgender individuals. This law allows transgender people to self-identify their gender and prohibits discrimination in employment, education, and healthcare.
• As of now, same-sex marriages are not legally recognized in India. The Supreme Court recently declined to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriages, leaving it to the legislature to enact any such laws.
• As of 2024, marriage between same-sex couples is legally performed and recognized in 36 countries.

Do you know?

• Netherlands (2001): First country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi unveiled a commemorative postage stamp marking 75 years of the Supreme Court of India on August 31, 2024, at the District Judges Conference in Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

Key points:

• Established on January 28, 1950, the Supreme Court has been crucial in upholding the rule of law, protecting citizens’ rights, and ensuring justice across India.
• The stamp celebrates the Supreme Court’s significant role in India’s judicial system and its impact on shaping the nation’s legal framework.

• SJVN has been awarded the esteemed Navratna status by the Department of Public Enterprises, Government of India.
• This recognition marks a significant milestone in SJVN’s 36-year history, making it the 25th Navratna company in India.

About:

• Founded in 1988 as a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Himachal Pradesh, SJVN has evolved into a prominent power entity with operations in India and Nepal.
• SJVN, granted Miniratna status in 2008, has a diverse project portfolio of 56,802.4 MW.
• It currently operates thirteen projects with a total installed capacity of 2,466.5 MW and has 75 projects at various stages of implementation across hydro, solar, wind, thermal, and transmission sectors.

Significance of Navratna Status:

• The Navratna status is awarded to select Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) demonstrating exceptional financial performance and managerial efficiency.
• This status provides SJVN with increased financial and operational freedom, enabling the company to:
  • Undertake larger projects and form strategic partnerships.
  • Contribute significantly to the government’s goal of achieving 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.

• On August 29, 2024, Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Annpurna Devi, launched the new She-Box portal in New Delhi.
• Aim: This initiative aims to create a safer work environment for women by providing a centralized platform for registering and monitoring complaints of sexual harassment.

Features of the She-Box Portal:

• The She-Box portal acts as a comprehensive repository for information regarding Internal Committees (ICs) and Local Committees (LCs) across both government and private sectors.
• It provides a unified platform for filing complaints, tracking their progress, and ensuring timely processing by ICs.
• A designated nodal officer will oversee real-time monitoring of complaints through the portal.

Odisha Specific News

• The prestigious Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award will be given to:
• Kumkum Lal, a renowned Odissi dancer
• Guru Lakshmikanta Palit, in the field of music.
• Guru Dhaneswar Swain, in the field of percussion
•  Uttam Mohanty, in the field of cinema.

In addition to the main awards, the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Yuva Prativa Samman will be presented to four young artists under the age of 40.

1. Pompi Paul and Rajnita Mehra will receive the award for Odissi dance
2. Avijit Das will be honored for his dedication to Kuchipudi
3. Rohita Pradhan will be recognized for his contributions to Odissi music (mardala).

About:

• The Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award is a prestigious annual recognition bestowed upon individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of performing arts, particularly classical dance and music. 
• The award is named after the legendary Odissi dancer Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, who is considered the father of modern Odissi dance.   

• In a significant step towards enhancing education, innovation, and research in Odisha, CM signed an MoU with Dharmendra Pradhan for the implementation of the PM-USHA scheme. 
• This scheme, aligned with NEP 2020, aims to improve state universities by upgrading their infrastructure and transforming them into world-class multidisciplinary institutions. 
• The initiative includes curriculum enhancement, teacher training, accreditation, and employability improvements.

 About:

• PM-USHA is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at improving higher education in India. 
• It was launched in 2013 as Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) and was renamed in 2018. 
• The scheme focuses on enhancing access, equity, and excellence in higher education by providing strategic funding to state universities and affiliated colleges.   

Key objectives of PM-USHA include:

• Increasing access to higher education, especially for marginalized groups.   
• Improving the quality of teaching-learning processes.   
• Enhancing employability of graduates  
• Promoting research and innovation.   
• Strengthening institutional governance

• The Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court has called for greater inclusivity and equal access to the juvenile justice system for children with disabilities. 
• The Orissa High Court Juvenile Justice Committee and Judicial Academy organised the meeting in collaboration with the departments of Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD), Women and Child Development (WCD) and UNICEF.

Juvenile Justice:

• The Juvenile Justice system is a critical aspect of legal frameworks aimed at addressing the needs and rights of children who engage in criminal activities or require protection. 
• In India, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act) serves as the primary legislation governing this area.

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