17, August, 2022

 

Topic: Fermented Organic Manure (FOM) in Punjab

 

Importance: Punjab PCS Prelims and Mains

 

What is the news?

• Punjab Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Mann led government is planning to promote the utilization of Fermented Organic Manure (FOM) produced by Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants, in Agriculture, Horticulture and Floriculture sectors of the state.
• Mr. Aman Arora, New & Renewable Energy Sources Minister said this here today after a brainstorming discussion at PEDA. Bhawan.

Current Status:

• The Cabinet Minister said that Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA) has already allocated 42 CBG projects of total capacity 492.58 tons per day (TPD) based on paddy straw and other agro-residue and Asia’s largest CBG plant with a total capacity of 33.23 ton CBG per day has also been commissioned at village Bhuttal Kalan (Sangrur) recently.
• least 5 Lac tonnes Fermented Organic Manure (FOM) is expected to be produced annually by these CBG plants on the commission.

 

How it will be used?

• The use of Fermented Organic Manure (FOM) will enhance the nutrient uptake, growth, yield, nutrition efficiency, crop quality and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress.
• Its use can prevent the uptake of heavy metals, besides helping local allied industries to flourish, said New & Renewable Energy Sources Minister.

 

How it will boost the local economy?

• Mr. Aman Arora said that these projects would not only improve the availability of Fermented Organic Manure to farmers, but also give a boost to the economy in the region including development of infrastructure like roads, railways, ancillary industry etc.
• Besides ensuring clean and green energy.

 

Who is supporting these?

• Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) to explore the feasibilities with PEDA/CBG Project Developers in this regard, while asking the PAU and GADVASU to provide active support in terms of testing, grading, certification and marketing of the Fermented Organic Manure.

 

About Fermented Organic Manure (FOM):

• This is a fermented liquid organic fertilizer produced from organic liquid material acted up on by effective Mountain Microorganisms, such as yeast, fungi and bacteria. The liquid organic matter is then transformed into plant elements, vitamins, organic acids and other substances for plant growth.

(Source: Punjab Government)

 

 

Topic: Healthcare Sector in Punjab

 

Importance: Punjab PCS Prelims and Mains

 

What is the news?

• CHIEF SECRETARY REVIEWS WORK OF HOMI BHABHA CANCER HOSPITAL AND RESEARCH CENTER.

 

Purpose:

• In order to take stock of the current status of Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Center in Chandigarh which would bolster the cost effective cancer treatment in the State, the Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua has reviewed the progress of the prestigious project.

 

Location:

• In the aftermath of the meeting, the Chief Secretary visited the site of the center at Mullanpur (New Chandigarh) to gain firsthand knowledge of the ground reality.

 

About Hospital:

• Homi bhabha cancer hosptial and research center is a 300 bedded facility which is partially functioning at present.
• The OPDs of various departments such as surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, preventive oncology, anesthesia and palliative care have been started, in addition to above, state of art facilities like MRI, CT, mammography, digital radiography, LINAC RT , Brachytherapy are available for the management of various kind of cancers.
• Dr Gulia also updated about seamless interconnecativity between HBCHRC New Chandigarh and HBCH Sangrur for reporting of various investigations.

 

About Homi Bhabha:

• Homi Jenhagir Bhabha (1909-1966) was an Indian physicist who is often considered the father of the Indian nuclear program.
• Bhabha was born to a wealthy family in Mumbai. In 1927, he went to England at Cambridge University. Although he began studying engineering per the wishes of his family, Bhabha was quickly drawn to physics. “I seriously say to you that business or job as an engineer is not the thing for me,” wrote Bhabha in 1932. “It is totally foreign to my nature and radically opposed to my temperament, and opinions. Physics is my line. I know I shall do great things here.” Bhabha earned a Ph.D. in nuclear physics in 1934.
• Bhabha returned to India before World War II to join the Indian Institute of Science, where he founded the Cosmic Ray Research Institute. In 1945, he founded the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, where initial research for India’s nuclear program began. Shortly after India’s independence in 1947, Bhabha wrote to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, arguing that “within the next couple of decades, atomic energy would play an important part in the economy and the industry of countries and that, if India did not wish to fall even further behind industrially advanced countries of the world, it would be necessary to develop this branch of science.”
• In 1954, Bhabha founded a nuclear research center at Trombay which was later renamed the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC). A strong proponent of nuclear energy, Bhabha organized the first UN Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy in 1955. He was the head of India’s nuclear program until his death.
• Homi Bhabha died in a plane crash on the way to Geneva on January 24, 1966.

(Source: Punjab Government & atomicheritage)

 

 

 

Topic: Freedom Fighter

 

Importance: Punjab PCS Prelims and Mains

 

What is the news?

• The Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann pays tribute to Shaheed Madan Lal Dhingra ji on his martyrdom day and reiterates its commitment to fulfilling the dreams of the martyrs.

 

About Shaheed Madan Lal Dhingra:

• Madan Lal Dhingra was born in a very rich family in Amritsar on 17 February 1883. Belonging to a well-established and wealthy family of Punjab, which was loyal to the British, Madanlal went to England in the year 1906 to study engineering.
• While in London, he came in contact with Veer Savarkar and his associates. A man of deep conviction and firm determination, he realized that sacrifices and actions were needed, not words, in order to gain India’s liberation. He shot dead Curzon Wyllie, who was considered an anti-Indian officer of the British regime. His doctor father had disowned him after he assassinated Curzon Wyllie.
• On 1 July 1909, at the meeting of the National Indian Association (an organization of Indian loyalists) he shot Curzon Wyllie dead. He made no attempt to escape and during the course of hearing of the case, he himself asked for a death sentence. He was hanged in London on 17 August 1909. On being sentenced to death, he graciously thanked the judge. Such was the spirit of sacrifice of this brave freedom fighter of our soil.

 

 

Topic: High Court Judges

 

Importance: Punjab PCS Prelims and Mains

 

What is the news?

• Eleven advocates, who were elevated as Judges by the Union Law ministry recently were on Tuesday morning administered oath as Additional Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

 

Lets understand the appointment of Judges of the High Court:

 

Appointment of HC Judges:

• Article 217 of the Constitution: It states that the Judge of a High Court shall be appointed by the President in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI), the Governor of the State.
• Where there is an appointment of a judge other than the Chief Justice, the Chief Justice of the High Court shall be consulted.
  Consultation Process: High Court judges are recommended by a Collegium comprising the CJI and two senior-most judges.
  The proposal, however, is initiated by the relevant Chief Justice of the High Court in consultation with two of its senior colleagues.
• The recommendation goes to the chief minister, who advises the governor to send the proposal to the minister for union rights.
• The Chief Justice of the High Court is appointed in accordance with the policy of having chief justices from outside the respective states.
• The Collegium takes the call on the elevation.

 

Ad hoc judges: The appointment of retired judges was provided for in the Constitution by virtue of Article 224A.
Under the Article, the Chief Justice of a High Court for any State may at any time, with the previous consent of the President, request any person who has held the office of judge of that court or of any other High Court to sit and act as a judge of the High Court for that State.

• Recently, the Supreme Court requested the appointment of retired judges to combat the dependency of cases before the High Courts.
• It orally outlined prospective guidelines for the appointment and functioning of an ad-hoc judge.

Collegium System:

• It is the system of appointment and transfer of judges that has evolved through the judgments of the SC, and not by an Act of Parliament or by a provision of the Constitution.

 

TRANSFER OF A JUDGE (INCLUDING CHIEF JUSTICE) FROM ONE HIGH COURT TO ANOTHER HIGH COURT:

 

1)  Article 222 of the Constitution makes provision for the transfer of a Judge (including Chief Justice) from one High Court to any other High Court. The initiation of the proposal for the transfer of a Judge should be made by the Chief Justice of India whose opinion in this regard is determinative. Consent of a Judge for his first or subsequent transfer would not be required. All transfers are to be made in public interest that is for promoting better administration of justice throughout the country.

2) In the formation of his opinion for the transfer of a Judge, other than the Chief Justice, the Chief Justice of India is expected to take into account the views of the Chief Justice of the High Court from which the Judge is to be transferred, as also the Chief Justice of the High Court to which the transfer is to be effected. The Chief Justice of India should also take into account the views of one or more Supreme Court Judges who are in a position to offer his/their views which would assist in the process of deciding whether or not a proposed transfer should take place.

3) In the case of transfer of a Chief Justice, only the views of one or more knowledgeable Supreme Court Judges need to be taken into account.

4) The views on the proposed transfer of a Judge or a Chief Justice of a High Court should be expressed in writing and should be considered by the Chief Justice of India and the four seniormost Judges of the Supreme Court. The personal factors relating to the concerned Judge, including the Chief Justice, and his response to the proposal, including his preference of places, should invariably be taken into account by the Chief Justice of India and the first four puisne Judges of the Supreme Court before arriving at conclusion on the proposal.

5) The proposal for transfer of the Judge, including the Chief Justice should be referred to the Government of India alongwith the views of all those consulted in this regard.

6) After the recommendation of a transfer is received from the Chief Justice of India, the Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs would submit the recommendation alongwith relevant papers to the Prime Minister who will then advise the President as to the transfer of the Judge concerned. After the President approves the transfer, the Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Justice will inform the Chief Justice of the High Courts and the Chief Ministers of concerned States and will announce the transfer and issue the necessary notification in the Gazette of India.

7) Transfer of Judge to or from Jammu & Kashmir High Court shall be made in accordance with clause (1) of Article 222 of the Constitution of India read with Article 222 (1A) of the Constitution (Application to Jammu & Kashmir) order, 1954. Therefore, when it is proposed to transfer a Judge from or to the Jammu & Kashmir High Court, the Minister of Law and Justice in the Central Government will consult the Governor (Chief Minister) of Jammu & Kashmir for his views before putting up the relevant papers to the Prime Minister for advising the President. In case there is a difference of opinion, the Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs will consult the Chief Justice of India again before putting up the papers to the Prime Minister for advising the President on the matter of Transfer. On approval of the President, the transfer will be announced in the usual manner.

 

 

Some Important Points:

 

1) When a permanent vacancy is expected to arise in any year in the office of a Judge, the Chief Justice will as early as possible but at least 6 months before the date of occurrence of the vacancy, communicate to the Chief Minister of the State his views as to the persons to be selected for appointment. Full details of the persons recommended, in the format given in Annexure-I should invariably be sent. Before forwarding his recommendation, the Chief Justice must consult two of his seniormost colleagues on the Bench regarding the suitability of the names proposed. All consultation must be in writing and these opinions must be sent to the Chief Minister along with the recommendations.

2) The proposal for appointment of a Judge of a High Court shall be initiated by the Chief Justice of the High Court. However, if the Chief Minister desires to recommend the name of any person he should forward the same to the Chief Justice for his consideration. Since the Governor is bound by the advice of the Chief Minister heading the Council of Ministers, a copy of the Chief Justice’s proposal, with full set of papers, should simultaneously be sent to the Governor to avoid delay. Similarly, a copy thereof may also be endorsed to the Chief Justice of India and the Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs to expedite consideration. The Governor as advised by the Chief Minister should forward his recommendation along with the entire set of papers to the Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs as early as possible but not later than six weeks from the date of receipt of the proposal from the Chief Justice of the High Court. If the comments are not received within the said time frame, it should be presumed by the Union Minister of Law, Justice and Company Affairs that the Governor (i.e. Chief Minister) has nothing to add to the proposal and proceed accordingly.

(Source: The Tribune & DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE)

 

 

Topic: Steps to tackle Corruption in Punjab

 

Importance: Punjab PCS Prelims and Mains

 

What is the news?

• Tightening the noose around private sugar mills — owned by politicians and prominent businessmen, who have always had their way in the past — the AAP government is all set to audit their entire operations.

 

Meeting on cane state advised price (SAP) likely soon

• A meeting to decide the state advised price (SAP) for cane for 2022-23 is expected to be held soon.
• Last cane crushing season, Punjab gave a SAP of Rs 345-Rs 360 per quintal for different varieties, with a sugar recovery ratio of 9.8%.
• The govt is under pressure to raise the SAP, after the Centre hiked its SAP to Rs 305 for 10.25% sugar recovery

 

Current Status of Sugar Mills in Punjab:

• Punjab has seven private sugar mills and nine cooperative ones. While the cooperative sugar mills have limited cane crushing capacity, the private ones collectively crush 70 per cent of the total sugarcane in the state. This, perhaps, has helped them dictate terms, including the decision on the state advised price of cane to be offered to farmers, to various governments in the past.

 

Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal shared:

• Today, I have ordered to conduct end-to-end audit of all private sugar mills. Right from the quantity of cane they get for crushing to how much they actually crush to sugar extracted and finally, the cost at which it is sold by them — all operations will be a part of the audit.
• The total cost of making sugar will also be calculated as well as the profit made by them. How can these mills sell sugar at high market prices, while claiming subsidy from the state government? This is profiteering at the cost of taxpayers. The audit will help us understand why the private sugar mills do not pay their dues to farmers on time, while they continue to rake in moolah
  .
• Earlier, the minister had said that the government will take over the operations of the private sugar mills if they do not clear the dues of cane growers. Inquiries made by The Tribune reveal that of the seven private sugar mills, three (AB Sugars, Nahar Sugars and Chadha Sugar Mill) have already cleared the dues. But the other four are yet to clear dues of Rs 126 crore. “Of these, the Golden Sandhar Sugar Mill owes Rs 72 crore to farmers and Indian Sucrose Limited owes Rs 47 crore. The other two mills — Rana Sugars and Bhagwanpura Sugar Mill — owe a small amount. The state government too is supposed to release its part of the subsidy to these mills,” a senior officer in the Agriculture Department.
• Notably, the nine cooperative sugar mills have already cleared dues of Rs 200 crore to farmers for 2021-22 cane crushing season and another Rs 95 crore will be released in a month.

(Source: The Tribune)