DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS ANALYSIS

27 JULY 2022

. No.	Topic Name	Prelims/Mains
1.	About the Suspension of Rajya Sabha MP	Prelims & Mains
2.	Details of the Family Courts Bill	Prelims & Mains
3.	About the China Pakistan Economic Corridor	Prelims & Mains
4.	Details of the International Space Station	Prelims Specific Topic

 

1 – About the Suspension of Rajya Sabha MP: 

GS II

Topic – Parliament related issues

• When may the chair make a suspension request?
• The Rajya Sabha’s General Rules of Procedure state in Rule 255:
• According to Rule 255 (‘Withdrawal of Member’) of the General Rules of Procedure of the Rajya Sabha, the Chairman may order any member whose conduct, in his opinion, is grossly disorderly, to withdraw immediately from the Council. Any member so ordered to withdraw shall do so forthwith and shall absent himself during the remainder of the day’s meeting.
• What distinguishes suspensions made pursuant to Rules 255 and 256?
• While Rule 256 calls for the “Suspension of Member,” Rule 255 provides a less severe punishment.
• A member of the Council may be suspended from their duties under Rule 256 for a time not to exceed the remainder of the Session.
• Rules of parliamentary etiquette:
• There are various rules of parliamentary decorum that MPs must adhere to.
• For instance, the Lok Sabha rules state that MPs must refrain from hissing or making running remarks during other people’s speeches, keep their mouths shut, or otherwise obstruct the discussion.
• Due to fresher protest movements, these rules were updated in 1989.
• In the House, members are no longer allowed to shout protest chants, carry protest signs, or use cassette players or tape recorders.
• In Rajya Sabha, same procedures are in place. The rules also provide specific, related authorities to the presiding officers of both Houses to facilitate the proceedings.
• The Speaker and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha each have separate powers:
• The Chairman of Rajya Sabha, like the Speaker of Lok Sabha, has the power to “require any Member whose behaviour in his judgement is highly disorderly to withdraw immediately” from the House, in accordance with Rule Number 255 of the Rule Book.
• In contrast to the Speaker, the Rajya Sabha Chairman does not have the power to suspend a Member.
• Suspension procedures for a Rajya Sabha member:
• The Chairman may designate a member who “disregards the authority of the Chair or violates the rules of the Council by persistently and purposefully obstructing” business.
• In this situation, the House has the option of passing a motion suspending the Member from House duties for a period of time that cannot exceed the remainder of the current term.
• However, the suspension might be lifted by a different House motion.
• Why was the suspension of MPs justified?
• Unruly behaviour necessitates a long-term, democratically-based remedy.
• There is no question that the smooth operation of proceedings depends on the correct execution of the Presiding Officer’s supreme power.
• But it’s crucial to maintain equilibrium. The Presiding Officer’s responsibility is to preside over the House, not to dominate it.
• How frequently have MP suspensions followed interruptions?
• The first occurrence happened in 1963. A few Lok Sabha MPs first interrupted President Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan during his joint address to both Houses before they left.
• The Lok Sabha adjourned with these MPs being censured. 1989’s Lok Sabha discussion over the Thakar Commission report led to the expulsion of 63 MPs.
• Forgerying the minister’s bill on women’s reservations led to the expulsion of seven MPs from the Rajya Sabha in 2010, which was more recent.
• Since then, lawmakers have chanted, been pepper-sprayed within the House, and carried signs.

Source – The Indian Express

2 – Details of the Family Courts Bill:

GS II

Topic – Government Policies and Interventions

• Context:
• The Lok Sabha gave its approval to the Family Courts (Amendment) Bill, 2022 on Tuesday. It seeks to amend the Family Courts Act of 1984 to establish family courts in Nagaland beginning on September 12, 2008, and Himachal Pradesh beginning on February 15, 2019, respectively.
• The bill also seeks to include a new Section 3A that will retrospectively legalise all actions taken under the aforementioned Act by the state governments of Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland as well as their respective family courts before the Family Courts (Amendment) Act of 2022 went into effect.
• When the bill was discussed, Rijiju stated that there were 11.49 lakh cases still pending in 715 family courts spread across 26 states and Union Territories as of May 1st, 2022.
• Historical Setting:
• The Family Courts Act of 1984 was enacted into legislation in order to promote amicable behaviour and allow for the quick resolution of conflicts affecting marriage and family problems. The main goal of family courts is to move family and marital disputes away from traditional and overburdened courts of law and into a basic court where a layperson can understand the procedure. The two pillars on which the entire structure of family courts is built are counselling and conciliation.
• What are family courts, exactly?
• In order to protect the welfare of the family, family courts use a multidisciplinary approach to settle family disputes within the confines of the law.
• In addition to defending people’s legal rights, these courts help families deal with problems and rebuild family harmony by serving as a mentor, advisor, and counsellor.
• Provisions:
• The Family Courts Act, passed in 1984, authorised the creation of family courts in order to facilitate conciliation and promote the quick resolution of marital and family issues.
• There are 6 chapters and 23 sections.
• The Act calls for the creation of a Specialized Court that will solely address family issues in order for this court to have the necessary expertise to handle these situations promptly.
• If any party asks it, the Family Court may also ask that the sessions be held in secret.
• Section 3 of this act states that, after consulting with the High Court, the State government shall establish the Family Court in every area of the state with a population of more than one million people or in any other location where the State government thinks it necessary.
• Section 4 of the Family Courts Act of 1984 details the procedures for appointing judges to the Family Court.
• According to Section 7 of this Act, the family courts have the same authority and jurisdiction over cases and proceedings as the District Court or Subordinate Civil Courts.
• The family courts are given the power to exercise any other legal jurisdiction as well as the same jurisdiction as a Magistrate of the First Class under Chapter IX of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, according to Section 7. (2).
• Jurisdiction:
• The following are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Family Courts:
• Matrimonial remedy covers determinations of a person’s validity, guardianship of people or custody of minors, declarations of a marriage’s nullity, judicial separation, divorce, restitution of conjugal rights, and maintenance of the wife, kids, and parents. It also includes either spouse’s or both spouses’ property.
• Significance:
• It makes an effort to mediate or reconcile family disputes between the persons involved.
• In addition to the support of medical and welfare experts, it provides for the association of social welfare organisations, counsellors, and other professionals throughout the conciliation stage.
• Parties involved in a dispute before a Family Court may not necessarily have the right to legal counsel. However, in the interest of justice, the Court may ask an attorney to act as an amicus curiae.
• The rules of evidence and procedure can be made simpler in order to successfully resolve a dispute.
• Only one appeals route is open, and that is to the High Court.
• In order to shorten and simplify the legal process, they employ a multidisciplinary approach to guarantee a fair trial and the prompt and economical resolution of disputes.
• In order to speed up proceedings, family courts have the authority to implement their own settlement methods through laws developed in cooperation with the High Courts.
• Therefore, knowledge and speedy resolution are two essential components in developing such a court.
• It additionally sought to provide a low-cost solution and foster a flexible, casual environment throughout the proceedings.

Source – The Hindu

3 – About the China Pakistan Economic Corridor:

GS II

Topic – International Relations

• Details of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, often known as CPEC:
• A pet initiative of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) seeks to expand Beijing’s influence globally by supporting infrastructural projects. The initiative’s main project is the CPEC, which was unveiled in 2015.
• The 3,000 km long China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is made up of highways, trains, and pipelines.
• CPEC eventually aims to connect the cities of Gwadar in South Western Pakistan and Xinjiang in North Western China with a vast network of highways and rails.
• Chinese banks will provide the Pakistani government with loans that are heavily subsidised in order to fund the proposed project.
• Why Afghanistan joining the CPEC concerns India:

Port Chabahar: The primary obstacle to Afghanistan joining CPEC is India’s concern over Afghanistan’s involvement in Iran’s Chabahar port.

• China’s influence: In an effort to cover the economic gap left by the withdrawal of US soldiers from Afghanistan, China is aiming to implement its Belt and Road (BRI) programmes there.
• With the expansion of CPEC, China would assume a prominent role in Afghanistan, outpacing India’s economic hegemony there.
• India is worried that the trilateral agreement that gives Afghanistan access to the sea through Chabahar port could be jeopardised. This accord is between India, Iran, and Afghanistan.
• India’s economic sway is decreasing:
• Attempts to extend CPEC to Afghanistan may jeopardise India’s status as Afghanistan’s economic, security, and geopolitical partner.
• $2 billion is on the line: India, the largest regional donor to Afghanistan, has contributed more than $2 billion for building projects, including roads, dams, power plants, parliamentary structures, rural development, infrastructure, and more.
• Metals from rare earth minerals: China will benefit from these essential elements, which are employed in a variety of cutting-edge electronic technologies and advanced missile guidance systems, with the expansion of CPEC.
• Strategic Concerns and Terrorism: Given India’s lack of strategic depth in Afghanistan, China is better positioned to utilise its strategic advantages there.
• In Afghanistan, it will also help Pakistan get the upper hand and a strategic advantage over India.
• Pakistan could aid in a terrorist strike on India:
• Possession of ports and the Strategic Air Base: China may pose a danger to the Afghan Air Force’s Bagram complex.
• Since the Americans used it in place of the Kabul airport until the very end, the Bagram airport is the biggest and most modern airport.
• China has a history of building military bases on the ports and air bases it has taken control of abroad in exchange for loans.
• What to do next:
• India may find it simpler to conduct its trade and commercial activities in a secure environment because to Afghanistan’s improved infrastructure and security situation.
• However, the region must be free of terrorism in order to do that.
• It will be a major geopolitical victory for China and Pakistan and a defeat for India if Afghanistan joins the CPEC.
• Additionally, it can provide a safe haven and aid in the recruitment of terrorist organisations.

Source – The Indian Express

4 – Details of the International Space Station:

Prelims Specific Topic

• Details:
• The International Space Station (ISS), often known as a livable artificial satellite, is in low-Earth orbit.
• The first piece of the International Space Station (ISS), the largest man-made object in low Earth orbit, was launched into space in 1998.
• It does 15.5 orbits per day, each of which takes 92 minutes to complete.
• On the International Space Station, the crew conducts research in physics, astronomy, meteorology, human biology, microgravity, and other fields (ISS).
• Five different space organisations from 15 different countries collaborated to build the $100 billion International Space Station, which is still operational today.
• Its ownership and use have been decided through intergovernmental treaties and accords.
• The ongoing stay at the ISS has established a record for the longest continuous human presence in low earth orbit.
• It is scheduled to be used until 2030.
• NASA plans to shut it down in 2031.
• The five space agencies listed below have worked together on the ISS programme:
• NASA (United States), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), Roscosmos (Russia), and CSA (Canada)

Source – The Hindu