1 FOREWORD More has been said about the writing of lawyers and judges than of any other group, except, of course, poets and novelists. The difference is that while the latter has usually been admired for their writing, the public has almost always damned lawyers and judges for theirs. If this state of affairs has changed in recent times, it is only in that many lawyers and judges have now joined the rest of the world is complaining about the quality of legal prose. My best wishes to all these student contributors, for their future endeavors. My best wishes and assurance to the readers that this will add a lot to the knowledge after reading this Judiciary notes. It’s not just for the legal fraternity but for anyone who has an interest in the field of law. - By Vrinda Khanna, Associate, All India Legal Forum 2 PREFACE May there be Peace in Heaven, May there be Peace in the Sky, May there be Peace in the Earth, May there be Peace in the Water, May there be Peace in the Plants, May there be Peace in the Trees, May there be Peace in the Gods in the various Worlds, May there be Peace in all the human beings, May there be Peace in All. PEACE, PEACE, PEACE. Our age-old culture prays for peace and happiness for one and all. Family is the first and oldest social group. It has played an important role in the stability and prosperity of the civilization. Almost everything of lasting value in humanity has its roots in the family. Peace and harmony in the family are important for the all-round development of children. This Compilation of Judiciary notes by All India Legal Forum is aimed at bringing about desired sensitivity in all duty holders. We’re glad to be a part of the All India Forum. Here’s an introduction to my team: ◆ Patron- in-Chief: Aayush Akar ◆ Editor-in-Chief: Shubhank Suman ◆ Senior Manager: Vrinda Khanna ◆ Manager: Shree Latha Sampat ◆ Researchers: Elamathy. S Yash Sharma Aastha Miglani ◆ Editors: Livya P. Lalu 3 DISCLAIMER Team AILF India has made all efforts to summarize the Judiciary notes retrieved from AIR and SCC. In some cases, the team has tried to summarize cases from the available sources as they could not find original ones. 4 INDEX ◆ CURRENT AFFAIRS…………………….….….………………...………..…6 ◆ SPORTS NATIONAL NEWS………..…………..……..……………………12 ◆ STATIC GK………………..…………………..….…….……………………15 5 CURRENT AFFAIRS 1) Onus is on Pakistan: India reacts to pak Army chief’s call for resolving Kashmir issue peacefully. ● Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa had earlier stated, “Pakistan and India must resolve the longstanding issue of Jammu and Kashmir in a dignified and peaceful manner as per the aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir”. ● India said that the onus was on Pakistan to create a terror – free environment for “normal neighborly relations”. ● The Bajwa stated that Pakistan stands “firmly committed to the ideal of mutual respect and peaceful co-existence”. It is time extend a hand of peace in all directions. However, we will not allow anybody or entity to misinterpret our desire for peace as sign of weakness, he added. ● India’s response was to reiterate that it was up to Pakistan to take the first step. “Our position is well-known. India desires normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan in an environment free of terror, hostility and violence. The onus is on Pakistan for creating such an environment”, said by Ministry of External Affairs. 2) Farm Laws: US says access to internet, peaceful protest are ‘hallmarks of a thriving democracy’. ● A day after the Indian government organised an online campaign against by foreign celebrities, the US has stated that peaceful protest and unhindered access to the internet are a “hallmark of thriving democracy”. WHY IN NEWS? ● The Indian Ministry of External Affairs had issued a strong criticism of celebrities like US singer Rihanna and niece of the US President, Meena Harris. The US embassy spokesperson in Delhi too issues the identical statement, with an addition – “these are private citizens expressing their points of view. I don’t have comment on remarks from private citizens”. ● After her, environmental activist Greta Thunberg and other celebrities also claimed in with their concern about the restrictions. 6 ● The Indian’s Ministry of External Affairs came out with a detailed statement against the “foreign individuals and entities on the farmers protest”. It listed the advantages of the three farm laws and claimed that they were passed by parliament after “full debate and discussion”. ● The MEA said that, before rushing to comment there must proper understanding of the facts and issues. The temptation of sensationalist social media hashtags and comments, especially when resorted to by celebrities and others, is neither accurate nor responsible. ● The MEA statement also alleged that “vested interest groups” were trying to impose their agenda on the protests and were behind the violence on Jan 26 and the damage to Gandhi statutes in the US. ● While the statement also noted that the government has held a series of talks with the protesting farmers, the MEA press note was silent on the internet blackout. ● Unusually, the MEA had used two hashtags with the statement – “India Together” and “India Against Propaganda.” 3) Myanmar Military is Back in Power, But for How Long? ● The Junta Chief pledged to hold elections, but activists doubt the military will step down after one-year state of emergency ends. ● The military is back in power in Myanmar after a coup less than a decade after it launched a transition to democracy to end nearly half a century of direct army rule and international isolation. ● The military pledged to stick to its 2008 constitution and return power via a free and fair election but set no clear time frame. Economist say the coup spook foreign investors and hit international development support, with the threat of a return of sanctions that made Myanmar among the world’s poorest countries. JUSTIFICATION: ● The army said the administration had refused to act against “terrible fraud” in a November 8, 2020 general election, which was won overwhelmingly by Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party. The military said it took power “to perform scrutiny of the voter lists” and the coup would protect democracy. 7 ● The military justified its coup within the parameters of the constitution, using a clause that allows for power to be transferred by the President to the armed forces chief in a state of emergency declared to address threats to the nation. 4) UK is scheme for Hong Kong Residents. ● Recently, the UK has launched a special visa scheme that will allow the Hong Kong residents a chance to migrate and eventually apply for British Citizenship. ● The move came months after china imposed a national security law over Hong Kong enabling it to curb the 2019 pro-democracy like protests in future and also to override the powers of the government in Hong Kong. ● The move is considered the UK’s most generous welcoming of foreign workers since the entity of new European Union (EU) citizens in 2004 – when 10 countries were added to the bloc – at a time when the UK was also a member. The UK officially left the EU on 31st January 2020. WAY FORWARD: ● The present visa regime will enable the people of Hong Kong to evade the secretive, authoritarian and coercive actions of china under national security act, however long term solutions can be attained by arbitration and conciliation with all the stakeholders to secure the interests of people of Hong Kong. ● National security law endangers Hong Kong’s position as an East Asian trading hub, and along with the UK’s action it should invite global criticism for Beijing, which is already being accused of withholding key information related in the Covid –19 Pandemic. 5) East Container Terminal (ECT), Colombo port. ● Reneging in a 2019 agreement with India and Japan, Sri Lanka has decided to develop the strategic ECT at the Colombo Port on its own. ● This development is a matter of great concern for India as: ⮚ 70% of the transshipment business at ECT is linked to India. ⮚ ECT is located along one of the world’s key shipping lanes. 8 ⮚ Further, ECT is also located next to the Colombo International Container Terminal 85% stakes which is owned by China. 6) NATO urges Taliban to end violence: ● NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday (04.02.2021) urged the Taliban to honour commitments to reduce violence and cut less to terror groups, as the alliance weighs withdrawal from Afghanistan. ● Defence Ministers of the grouping are to discuss whether NATO’s 10,000-strong mission should stay or go later this month. 7) West Bengal govt allows reopening of sporting complexes, stadiums, swimming pools. All stadiums, swimming pools and sporting complexes outside of containment zones are set to reopen in West Bengal, with the state government having given its green signal on Wednesday. According to a government notification, sporting complexes, pools and stadiums have been allowed to operate at full capacity with immediate effect for outdoor events, provided they follow basic COVID-19 protocols, such as maintenance of social distance and use of masks. 8) Delhi govt to help trace farmers missing from protest sites: CM Kejriwal. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said his government will help trace the farmers missing since the January 26 violence and if the need arises, he will approach the Lieutenant Governor and the Centre. Kejriwal said that the Delhi government has also released a list of 115 persons lodged in different jails here in connection with the January 26 violence during the farmers’ tractor rally.