CONTENTS
- Suspension of MPs
- Election freebies
- Universal Service Obligation Fund
- Kangaroo court
Suspension of MPs
Context:
Over this week, the two Houses of Parliament have suspended 27 MPs between them, the latest being two AAP MPs and an independent MP from Rajya Sabha . Lok Sabha has suspended four Congress MPs, and Rajya Sabha 23 MPs. The Rajya Sabha suspensions are for the remaining part of this week, and those from Lok Sabha are for the rest of the session.
- The two Houses suspended these MPs because they disrupted proceedings, demanding a debate on rising prices and increasing GST rates on essential commodities.
Relevance:
GS II: Polity and Governance
Dimensions of the Article:
- Why do MPs disrupt Parliament?
- What has Parliament done to address these issues?
- Who can suspend MPs, and for how long?
- Can courts intervene in a matter of suspension of MPs?
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Election Freebies
Context:
Recently, the Supreme court asked the central government whether distributing irrational freebies during election campaigns is financially viable.
- It also referred to use the expertise of the Finance Commission in curbing the irrational poll freebies.
Relevance:
GS-II: Governance (Government Policies and Interventions, Issues arising out of the design and implementation of policies, Transparency and Accountability)
Dimensions of the Article:
- What are Freebies?
- Understanding difference between welfare schemes and freebies
- Impact of freebie culture
- What is Populism and what is its impact?
- Judiciary on the culture of freebies
- Way Forward
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Universal Service Obligation Fund
Context:
The Union Cabinet has approved a project for providing 4G mobile services in thousands of villages across the country under the USOF.
Relevance:
GS-II: Social Justice and Governance (Welfare Schemes, Government Initiatives and Policies)
Dimensions of the Article:
- What is the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)?
- Who are the partners of USOF?
Click Here To Read More: Universal Service Obligation Fund
Kangaroo Court
Context:
Chief Justice of India said that “rising number of media trials” are proving to be hurdles towards doing justice, and “kangaroo courts” run by the media are causing harm to the health of the democracy.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
What is a kangaroo court?
- Oxford Dictionary defines it as “an unofficial court held by a group of people in order to try someone regarded, especially without good evidence, as guilty of a crime or misdemeanour”.
- In a less literal sense, it is used to refer to proceedings or activities where a judgement is made in a manner that is unfair, biased, and lacks legitimacy.
-Source: Indian Express
