The Court has ruled that legislative privilege cannot be extended to provide legal protection to criminal acts by lawmakers. Destruction of property in the name of protests should not be tolerated, it said.
The council of ministers of the government of West Bengal, in its first meeting on May 17, 2021, took the decision to set up a legislative council. In its manifesto, the Trinamool Congress had promised the formation of the council.
In a far reaching order, the Delhi High Court said that bigamy cannot cause a government servant to lose his job as ethical standards had changed since the time the Conduct Rules were framed over 50 years ago.
With several states breaching the 50 percent quota in government jobs, the apex court has issued a notice to them and Union Territories asking if this could be allowed as the limit was laid down by a bench in 1992.
The Congress MP’s suggestion to allow the Standing Committee to “examine” the laws may be misplaced as it can only examine Bills, not Acts. It is prudent to wait for the report of the panel ordered by the apex court.
On January 22, 2021, the prolonged dialogue between agitating farmers’ associations and the ostensibly patient government ended in a stalemate. Or is it a checkmate?
When a law is made by Parliament, it alone can repeal or suspend it. The Court has no power to stay it, and if it does so, then Parliament too can do the same to a court’s orders. This tussle has been there since the first Republic Day in 1950.
The theme has been an abiding one for the prime minister. While supporters say it will save public money and reduce administrative burden, critics say it is against the principle of cooperative federalism.