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- Lok Sabha Speaker to Launch 'Panchayat Se Parliament 2.0' at Samvidhan Sadan's Central Hall
- About Panchayat Se Parliament 2.0:
- The Panchayat Se Parliament 2.0 event is being organized by the National Commission for Women (NCW), in collaboration with the Lok Sabha Secretariat and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. This initiative marks the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, a revered tribal leader and freedom fighter.
- The event will bring together 502 elected women representatives from Scheduled Tribes across 22 states and Union Territories of India.
- The primary aim of the programme is to empower these women from Panchayati Raj institutions by improving their knowledge of constitutional frameworks, parliamentary processes, and governance.
- In addition, the programme seeks to acknowledge the significant contributions made by these women leaders in fields such as education and rural development.
- The event will feature a range of activities, including workshops and sessions, along with a guided tour of iconic landmarks such as the new Parliament House, Samvidhan Sadan, Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, and Rashtrapati Bhawan.
- A highlight of the event will be the Lok Sabha Speaker leading the delegates in reading the Preamble to the Constitution of India.
- This event follows the success of Panchayat Se Parliament 2024, which involved 500 women sarpanch from across the country.
- The first-ever Foundation Day of the Lokpal of India was celebrated on 16th January at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, in the esteemed presence of the Chief Justice of India.
- About Lokpal:
- The Lokpal is a statutory body created under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act of 2013.
- Mandate: Its primary function is to investigate allegations of corruption against specified public officials and address related matters.
- Organisational Structure:
- The Lokpal consists of a Chairperson and eight members, with four of them being Judicial Members.
- The Chairperson must be either a former Chief Justice of India, a former Supreme Court Judge, or an eminent person who meets the required eligibility criteria.
- The judicial members should be either former Supreme Court Judges or former Chief Justices of High Courts.
- At least 50% of the members must belong to SC/ST/OBC categories, minorities, and women.
- Appointments:
- The President of India appoints the Chairperson and members based on recommendations from a selection committee that includes the Prime Minister (Chairperson), Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India or a nominee, and one eminent jurist.
- They serve a term of five years or until they turn 70, whichever comes first.
- The Chairperson's salary and allowances are the same as the Chief Justice of India, while the members receive the same as a Supreme Court Judge.
- Jurisdiction:
- The Lokpal has the authority to investigate allegations of corruption against the Prime Minister, Union Ministers, Members of Parliament, and Union Government officials across Groups A, B, C, and D.
- It also covers officials of any board, corporation, society, trust, or autonomous body funded by the Union or State government, or receiving foreign contributions exceeding Rs 10 lakh.
- Complaints must relate to offenses under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and can be filed by any individual.
- If a prima facie case is found, the Lokpal can order a preliminary inquiry or refer the case to agencies like the CBI.
- Exceptions for the Prime Minister:
- The Lokpal cannot inquire into allegations against the PM concerning national security, international relations, public order, atomic energy, or space.
- Complaints against the PM require approval from at least two-thirds of the Lokpal bench before an inquiry can proceed.
- Powers of the Lokpal:
- The Lokpal supervises and directs the CBI in corruption cases and must approve any transfer of CBI officers investigating its cases.
- It has the authority to authorize CBI search and seizure operations linked to such cases.
- The Inquiry Wing of the Lokpal holds civil court powers.
- In special cases, it can confiscate assets acquired through corruption.
- The Lokpal can recommend the suspension or transfer of public servants involved in corruption allegations and prevent the destruction of records during preliminary inquiries.
- The Lokpal must submit an annual report to the President, which is then presented to both Houses of Parliament.
- The Supreme Court clarified that there cannot be more than one decree or operative order concerning the same matter at any given time, explaining the impact of merging the trial court's decree with the one issued by the High Court in second appeals.
- About the Doctrine of Merger:
- The Doctrine of Merger is a principle rooted in common law, aimed at preserving the order within the judicial hierarchy.
- It asserts that when an appellate court issues a ruling, the decree from the lower court merges with the appellate court's decision.
- The core rationale behind this doctrine is that only one decree or operative order can govern a subject matter at any particular moment.
- It resolves the question of which order should take precedence when multiple decisions are issued by both lower and higher courts on the same issue.
- The doctrine specifies that, in such cases, the superior court's ruling prevails, and the lower court’s decree merges with the higher court's decision.
- While not codified by statute, the doctrine reflects judicial propriety and aims to enforce discipline in the functioning of subordinate judicial bodies, whether judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative.
- The doctrine is not universally applicable and is subject to the nature of the jurisdiction exercised by the higher court and the specifics of the case being challenged.
- The Union Home Ministry has recently urged State governments to prevent the misuse and inappropriate representation of the State Emblem of India, emphasizing that the emblem is incomplete without the motto "Satyameva Jayate" in Devanagari script.
- About the State Emblem of India:
- The State Emblem of India is a modified version of the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath.
- In the original Ashokan pillar, four lions are mounted back-to-back on a circular abacus, which rests on a bell-shaped lotus.
- The frieze on the abacus features sculptures in high relief of a lion, elephant, galloping horse, and bull, separated by Dharma Chakras.
- The State Emblem, adopted by the Government of India on 26 January 1950, shows only three lions, with the fourth lion hidden from view.
- In the emblem, a wheel is displayed in relief at the center of the abacus, with a bull on the right and a horse on the left. There are also outlines of other wheels at the far right and left.
- The bell-shaped lotus from the original has been omitted.
- Below the Lion Capital, the words "Satyameva Jayate" appear in Devanagari Script, India’s national motto. This phrase, meaning “Truth alone triumphs,” is a quote from the Mundaka Upanishad, which is the most philosophical of the four Vedas.
- The usage of the State Emblem is strictly regulated under the State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005, and the State Emblem of India (Regulation of Use) Rules, 2007, ensuring that it is only used for authorized purposes.