Indian Polity - Current Affairs for November, 2016

The Supreme Court of India held that Punjab Government’s 2004 law, terminating the Sutlej Yamuna Link canal water sharing agreement as unconstitutional

• Court has also held that the Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004 is unconstitutional and Punjab could not have taken a unilateral decision to terminate the water sharing agreement with neighbouring states.
• Punjab State Legislature has also passed the act to escape from the duty of constructing its section of the canal link and sharing waters with neighbouring states
• Presidential reference regarding the same was made in 2004 by president APJ Abdul Kalam seeking legal clarity on the sharing of water from the SYL canal between N. Indian states following which it was taken up for hearing by the SC in March 2016
• The bench headed by Justice AR Dave ruled that the 5 questions contained in the Presidential reference have been answered in the negative
• SC rules that Punjab’s unilateral decision to terminate water sharing agreements with Haryana, HP, Rajasthan, J&K, Delhi and Chandigarh was unconstitutional
• Bench further held that the 2004 Act overrode the 2003 SC judgement that mandated the construction of the canal
• Using the act, the Congress government headed by Capt. Amarinder Singh nullified the ruling and agreed to proceed construction of the canal
• Bench reserved its verdict on the issue on 12th May 2016 following the central government maintaining its earlier neutral stand of 2004 that states concerned should settle their disputes among themselves.
• SC has also appointed the Union Home Secretary and Punjab Chief Secretary and DGP as joint receivers of land and other property focused on SYL canal till the judgement’s final outcome
• Punjab passed the Punjab Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal land (Transfer of Proprietary Right) Bill 2016
• In 2016, Punjab assembly also sought to pass the bill commanding restoration of land acquired to build the canal link to the farmers free of cost.
• Move was contested by the Haryana government at SC and a stay of the order was won.
• Amarinder Singh, under whom the law was passed, has sent his resignation to the LS Speaker and declared that the MLAs will be following suit to protest against the injustice done to the state.
• Singh demanded imposition of President’s rule in the state, voicing concerns against the Badal government after the court order
• Legal action will be decided after consulting the advocate general of the state
• Punjab cabinet has decided to convene a special session of the Punjab Assembly on 16^th Nov 2016 to discuss the matter

Replacing INR 500 and 1000 denomination notes will cost RBI INR 12,000 crore based on number of notes in circulation and the cost incurred in printing them.

• RTI queries show it costs INR 2.50 to print each INR 500 denomination note and INR 3.17 to print an INR 1000 note.
• This costs the central bank INR 3917 crore to print INR 1567 crore Rs. 500 notes in circulation and INR 2000 crore to print the 632 crore INR 1000 notes in circulation recently.
• Removing all notes and replacing them with new INR 500 and 2000 notes will cost the apex bank INR 12000 crore therefore.
• By replacing the INR 1000 notes, the government is doing away with the cheapest note to print in relation to the face value of the note.

After "Operation Calm Down" in South Kashmir, Army is focusing on "School Chalo".

• This operation identifies areas and provides students with free coaching and ensures they participate in extra curricular activities.
• Army had launched Operation "Calm Down" in August- September to clear different parts of the Valley of militants and protestors through minimum force.
• The educational institutions were closed over the period of 5 months and more than 30 schools were burned down.
• The School Chalo program is increasingly popular in the valley.
• Teachers in localities have been holding classes in school or community settings to impart education to children.
• Using the slogan "Chyem ne zaroorat Daulat-o-Rubab, Faqat Gochum School te Kitab" army soldiers are now convincing parents to send their wards to study in makeshift dwellings.

The Delhi HC has been established on 31st Oct 1966. It has turned 50 years old on 2016. With a total of 36 courtrooms, dealing with civil and criminal proceedings, it has witnessed some of the most challenging cases from the inception.

• Delhi HC has striven for efficiency and has passed landmark judgements.
• This includes the Centre-State row over distribution of practice, the National Herald case, the Delhi University photocopy case, and the call drop case.

The Supreme Court on 28th Oct 2016 indicated Armed Forces are answerable to the government, in the absence of which there would be martial law in the nation.

• Bench of justices Amitava Roy and U U Lalit observed this, while dismissing a plea seeking action against Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for his alleged interference and claims regarding the surgical strikes conducted by the Indian army in PoK.
• Advocate ML Sharma had filed the plea.
• The plea indicated that Union Ministers including the Defence Minister claimed credit for surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army, for which they were not entitled.
• The plea also held that as per provisions of the Constitution, the President is the head of the armed forces.
• Armed forces action was being used for personal interests of a few, according to the plea.
• The apex court said the plea was not maintainable and it was dismissed.

Government of India on 28th Oct have a second extension of one year to senior IPS officer Sharad Kumar as the DG of anti-terror probe agency National Investigation Agency.

• The ACC of Cabinet approved the proposal for the reappointment of Kumar to the post of DG for one year beyond the end of the previous one year.
• In the limelight for its role in terror investigations, this terror agency has monitored the Pathankot terror case, Uri attack in Kashmir, Burdwan blast case, Samjhauta blast case and capture of Indian IS terrorists.
• Kumar is an IPS officer of Haryana cadre of the 1979 batch.
• He was appointed Chief of the NIA on July 30, 2013.
• He is currently the longest serving chief of the agency formed post 26/11 Mumbai attacks Sports.