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Pb. Current Affairs

December 14, 2019

Topic:- Polity

News:- Cannot refuse a passport in case of FIR, states High Court

Context:-The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that passport cannot be refused to a person on the sole ground of registration of an FIR. The Bench also made it clear that it could only be refused after a criminal court had taken cognisance of the matter.

What was the petition?

The judgment by Justice Sanjay Kumar came on a petition filed by Jaswinder Singh against the Union of India and the Regional Passport Officer. The petitioner had moved the High Court claiming that he was not being issued a fresh passport.

Judgement:-

Justice Kumar added the High Court judgments in the case of “Daler Singh versus the Union of India and others” and “Sahib Jaskaran Singh versus the Union of India and others” held the field as on date.
He asserted the passport authorities, in terms of the judgments, could not refuse or cancel a passport on the ground of registration of an FIR.

Pointing at the provisions of the Passports Act, 1967, Justice Kumar asserted it mandated that such refusal, revocation or cancellation could be only ordered in case proceedings regarding an offence were pending before a criminal court. “Trite to state, unless cognisance is taken by the criminal court, the provisions will not come into play”.

(Source:- The Tribune)

Topic:- Agriculture

News:-Pest attack: No need to panic, officials, tell wheat growers.

Context: -A small section of farmers in the region, many of whom had not resorted to stubble burning and had sown wheat with Happy Seeder, have come out with the complaint of pink stem borer attack on their crop.

Chief Agriculture Officer, Bathinda view:-

It was not necessary that stem borer attack would be witnessed in only those farms where paddy stubble was not burnt and wheat was sown through Happy Seeder. He said weather conditions also played a crucial role in the pest attack. He said temperature and humidity levels were conducive for the pest growth till a week ago.

Punjab Agricultural University Farm Economist:-

PAU’s senior farm economist Dr GS Romana said reports of pink stem borer attack might be a bit high this time as the number of farmers not resorting to stubble burning had increased as compared to the last year. He, however, clarified that the pest attack had not taken place on a large scale. He said there was nothing unusual in it and pink stem borer attack was witnessed every year. He said the farmers should ensure soil treatment to ward off any threat of pest attack.