• 06 Aug 2024

Amendments in Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras (Management) Act, 2014

Why in News?

The Haryana Council of Ministers is set to approve an Ordinance to amend the Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras (Management) Act, 2014.

Key Points

• The objective of Haryana Sikh Gurdwaras (Management) Act, 2014 was to provide a legal procedure by which the gurdwaras were brought under the exclusive control of the Sikhs of Haryana for their proper use, administration, control and financial management reforms.
  • This act created a separate juristic entity for the management of the historical gurdwaras in Haryana, gurdwaras with income both over and under ₹20 lakh.
• Proposed Amendments:
  • Judicial Appointments: The proposed amendment includes provisions for appointing a High Court judge as the chairman of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission.
    • If a High Court judge is not appointed, a District Judge or a senior member of the commission will be considered.
  • Revision of Pension / Family Pension: The Haryana Government is also expected to deal with the issue of revision of pension/family pension for retired judicial officers of the Haryana government as per the Second National Judicial Pay Commission (SNJPC).

Second National Judicial Pay Commission

• The Commission was constituted in 2017 pursuant to the order of the Supreme Court in All India Judges Association case, under Article 32 (Constitutional Remedies) of the Constitution.
• It is headed by former Judge of Supreme Court Justice P. Venkatrama Reddi.
• Few of the objectives of the Commission are:
  • To evolve the principles governing the pay structure and emoluments of Judicial Officers belonging to the Subordinate Judiciary all over the country.
  • To examine the present structure of emoluments and conditions of services of Judicial Officers in the States and Union Territories and to make suitable recommendations including post-retirement benefits such as pension, etc.
  • To consider and recommend such interim relief as the Commission considers just and proper to all categories of Judicial Officers.
  • To make recommendations regarding setting up of a permanent mechanism to review the pay and service conditions of members of Subordinate Judiciary periodically by an independent Commission.
• The Supreme Court observed that the Commission may consider, if necessary, sending reports on any of the matters as and when recommendations are finalised.
• The Commission has been empowered to devise its own procedure and formulate the modalities necessary for accomplishing the task

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Cub Dies in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park

Why in News?

A five-month-old cheetah cub, born to the African cheetah Gamini, died at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

• Kuno National Park now has 13 adult cheetahs and 12 cubs remaining.

Key Points

• The five-month-old cheetah cub, whose health suddenly deteriorated and was found dragging its hind portion due to a fractured vertebral column, has died; the cause of death will be confirmed after an autopsy.
• Kuno National Park:
  • Kuno National Park, located in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district is home to several cheetahs translocated from Namibia and South Africa.
  • It is named after the Kuno River, one of the main tributaries of the Chambal River, which flows through the area.

NDRF Rescues Villagers in Jharkhand Floods

Why in News?

• The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescued 26 villagers stranded in flood waters in Garhwa district, Jharkhand.
  • Incessant rain over the past few days led to the flooding

Key Points

• The villagers were trapped in the flood waters of the Sone River near Hariharpur police outpost.
  • The Son River, also known as the Sone River, is a perennial river that flows through central India.
  • It is the 2^nd-largest southern (right bank) tributary of the Ganges after the Yamuna River.
  • It originates near Amarkantak Hill in the Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district of Chhattisgarh and finally merges with the Ganges River near Patna in Bihar.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)

• About:
  • NDRF is a specialised force constituted for the purpose of specialized response to natural and man-made disasters in India.
  • Formation and Purpose: The NDRF was formed in 2006 under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Its primary purpose is to respond quickly and effectively to natural and man-made disasters.
  • Structure: The NDRF consists of battalions from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) including the Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
    • Each battalion has specialized training and equipment for disaster response.

43 Tiger Deaths in Madhya Pradesh

Why in News?

• The deaths of 43 tigers between 2021 and 2023 were investigated, with 34 deaths in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve and 9 in Shahdol Forest Circle.

Key Points

• Special Investigation Team (SIT) Report: The SIT, headed by State Tiger Strike Force in-charge, submitted its report to the acting Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest & Head of the Forest Force (PCCF-HoFF) on July 15.
• Lack of Investigation: The report highlighted insufficient investigation into at least 10 tiger death cases, disinterest by higher authorities and Forest Range Officers, and missing body parts in 10 out of 34 cases.
• Formation of SIT: The SIT was formed on the orders of the state’s Chief Wildlife Warden to investigate the high number of tiger deaths.

Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR)

• It is located in the Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh and is spread over the Vindhya hills.
• In 1968, it was notified as a national park and in 1993 was declared a tiger reserve- under the Project Tiger Network at the neighbouring Panpatha Sanctuary.
• It is known for the Royal Bengal Tigers. The density of the tiger population at Bandhavgarh is the highest known in India as well as in the world.
  • These streams then merge into the Son river (an important southern tributary to the river Ganga).
• The important prey species consists of chital, sambhar, barking deer, nilgai, chinkara, wild pig, chowsingha, langur and rhesus macaque.
  • Dependent upon them are the major predators like tiger, leopard, wild dog, wolf and jackal.