SC strikes down Section 66A of IT Act, calls it
unconstitutional and untenable
The Supreme Court (SC) on 24 March 2015 struck down the
Section 66A of the Information and Technology Act 2000 calling it
unconstitutional and untenable.
SC in its ruling held that Section 66A interferes with
freedom of speech and expression envisaged under Article 19 of Constitution of
India and also hit the root of two cardinal pillars of democracy liberty and
freedom of expression.
This verdict was given by SC bench comprising of Justices J.
Chelameswar and R.F. Nariman on bunch of petitions filed in the wake of misuse
of the penal provision by government authorities.
Supreme Court said that
Section 66 A is unconstitutional because it failed two major
tests, the clear and present danger test and the tendency to create public
disorder test.
Language used in this section is vague and nebulous does not
properly define words like offensive or even persistent.
SC also rejected the assurance given by NDA government
during the hearing defending certain procedures of the law so it cannot be
question and abused.
However in this ruling SC did not strike down two other
provisions in sections 69A and 79 of the IT Act and mentioned that they can
remain enforced with certain restrictions.
The first petition in this regard was filed in 2012 by a law
student Shreya Singhal who had challenged the Section after two young women
were arrested for posting comments Facebook in Thane district.
About Section 66A of IT Act 2000
It gives power to government authorities to issue directions
to block public access of any information through any computer resource.
It also allows authorities to arrest a person for posting
allegedly offensive content on websites and imprisonment for a term which may
extend to three years and with fine.
Railways launches RuPay pre-paid debit card service
Indian Railways on 24 March 2015 launched its own RuPay
pre-paid card.
The card will enable passengers to book their Rail tickets
and do shopping using RuPay pre-paid debit cards. Card can be availed from
either the Union Bank or the IRCTC.
The RuPay pre-paid card was launched by Indian Railway
Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the Railways' tourism and catering
arm, in collaboration with the Union Bank of India.
RuPay is India's own card payment gateway network and
provides an alternative system for banks to provide debit card service.
The transaction charge will be 10 rupees per ticket for
booking a ticket through the card on the IRCTC portal.
As an opening offer, the
transaction charge will not be levied for six months for purchasing tickets on
the IRCTC's website. The initial value of the card is 10000 rupees, which can
be recharged.
Sale of Gutka in State will non-bailable offence - Maharashtra
Government
Maharashtra Government has made the sale of Gutka in the
state a non-bailable offence under Section 328 of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
It was announced by state government in state assembly in order to strictly
enforce the ban of these products.
State Governments announcement comes after increase in the
cases related to smuggling of gutka from the neighboring states where it is not
banned.
In 2012, Maharashtra Government had banned sale and
manufacturing of Gutka and Pan Masala under the Food Safety and Standards Act,
2006 and Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954.
Maharashtra was fifth state to ban gukta after Kerala,
Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and first state to ban Pan Masala.
Union Government approves 17 Mega Food Parks for food
processing across the country
Union Government has approved 17 mega food parks for food
processing across the country. It was announced by Union Cabinet Minister of
Food Processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal.
Out of these 17 food parks, 7 parks have been allotted to
state agencies whereas 10 to private players in 11 states.
These food parks will attract more investment in the
concerned states and generate employment opportunities.
It will also benefit five lakh farmers who are suffering due
to lack of storage and proper transport system.
These projects would help create infrastructure in rural
areas in the line of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project Make in India.
The scheme aims at facilitating the establishment of a
strong food processing industry in the country. It will be backed by an
efficient supply chain, which includes collection centres, central processing
center (CPC) and cold chain infrastructure.
Mangalyaan mission extended by 6 months
The Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Mars Orbiter
Mission was extended for another six months to further explore the Red Planet
and its atmosphere.
“As the 1,340 kg Mars
Orbiter has sufficient fuel (37 kg) to last longer than it was intended
earlier.
The historic mission has completed six months of orbiting
the Red Planet. India also became the first country to have entered the Mars
Sphere of Influence in its maiden attempt.
SEBI sets norms to govern international financial
centres
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) approved
guidelines to govern international financial services centres (IFSC). These
guidelines were approved by SEBI board meeting on 22 March 2015.
The news guidelines relax the norms for Stock exchanges and
clearing corporations to set up IFSC.
It also relaxes norms and allows existing
exchanges to set up their subsidiaries in the IFSC.
SEBI Guidelines are
Stock exchanges will be set up with Rs. 25 crore capital.
This capital is against the previous normal requirement of 100 crore rupees.
However, this initial capital should be raised to 100 crore
rupees within next 3 years. Such exchanges will also be given 3 years to
complete de-mutualisation.
The initial capital requirement will be 50 crore rupees for
a clearing corporation, against the previous norm of Rs. 300 crore. But it will
have to be achieved within 3 years period.
IFSC will be established under the Special Economic Zone
(SEZ) Act of 2005 and the issue of depository receipts and other securities by
foreign issuers under the Foreign Currency Depository Receipts Scheme, 2014,
will also be allowed.
ADB projected India's growth rate - 7.8
The Asian Development Bank projected India's growth rate to
surpass China and improve to 7.8 per cent in next fiscal and further to 8.2 per
cent in 2016-17.
The Asian Development Outlook, an annual publication of the
ADB said, India's growth and investor confidence will improve on the back of
government's structural reform agenda and improved external demand.
It forecast that India's growth will improve from 7.4 per
cent in current fiscal to 7.8 per cent in 2015-16 and further to 8.2 per cent
in 2016-17.