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The Supreme Court has set up a five-judge Constitution bench to hear petitions seeking legal recognition of same sex marriages.
The bench set up by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud comprises Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Ravindra Bhat, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha, besides the CJI.
Just over a month ago, the Supreme Court had on March 13 referred the petitions to the Constitution bench stating the matter raised questions of “seminal importance”.
In its reference order, a three-judge bench headed by the CJI had said the submissions on the issue involve the interplay between constitutional rights on the one hand, and specific legislative enactments, including the Special Marriage Act, besides the rights of transgender couples, on the other.
Having due regard to the broader context of the petitions and the interrelationship between the statutory regime and constitutional rights, we are of the considered view that it will be appropriate if the issues raised are resolved by a Constitution bench of five judges of this court having due regard to the provisions of Article 145(3) of the Constitution,” the reference order said.
Under Article 145(3), a minimum of five judges should hear cases that involve “a substantial question of law as to the interpretation” of the Constitution.
Lithium beyond original site, exploration may be expanded (Page no. 3)
(GS Paper 1, Geography)
The geographical formation in Jammu & Kashmir wherein ‘inferred’ lithium resources of 5.9 million tonnes were recently established likely extends well beyond the original location where the mineral was detected, and the scope of geological exploration is now being widened, a government official indicated.
This could expand the scale of the lithium find (hard rock deposit type), already pegged as India’s largest deposit of the white alkali metal, which is a vital ingredient of the lithium-ion rechargeable batteries powering electric vehicles, laptops and mobile phones.
Incidentally, lithium was discovered when exploration was underway for two other different minerals – limestone and bauxite – in the same column and location in the Salal-Haimana area of J&K’s Reasi district.
When mining commences at the location, there will be three different minerals to be extracted from the catchment zone – bauxite, limestone and lithium.
Express Network
PM calls for mass movement against climate change (Page no. 8)
(GS Paper 3, Environment)
Tackling climate change is not only the responsibility of the government but also of every individual, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a video message at a World Bank event on climate change.
Addressing the global event titled ‘Making it Personal: How Behavioral Change Can Tackle Climate Change’, PM Modi underlined the importance of the small deeds and said, “We believe that individuals making the right decisions for our planet are key in the battle for our planet. This is the core of Mission LiFE.”
On ‘Mission LiFE’, the Prime Minister said in 2015 at the United Nations General Assembly he spoke about the need for behavioural change, and in October 2022, the UN Secretary General and he launched the mission. The preamble to the outcome document of COP 27 also speaks about sustainable lifestyle and consumption.
Climate change cannot be fought from conference tables alone. It has to be fought from the dinner tables in every home. When an idea moves from discussion tables to dinner tables, it becomes a mass movement.
Making every family and every individual aware that their choices can help the planet can provide scale and speed. Mission LiFE is about democratising the battle against climate change.
When people would become conscious that simple acts in their daily lives are powerful, there will be a very positive impact on the environment,’’said the Prime Minister.
SC invoked indirect discrimination in law to read down Section 377 in 2018 (Page no. 9)
(GS Paper 2, Judiciary)
Invoking the idea of indirect discrimination in law, where laws that seem neutral could also be disproportionately disadvantageous to a group of individuals, Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud had read down the law that criminalised homosexuality in the landmark 2018 ruling.
In a separate but concurring opinion, Justice Chandrachud had recognised that indirect discrimination would violate the fundamental right to equality under Article 14 of the Constitution as much as “direct discrimination.”
This was the first time that indirect discrimination was read into the equality jurisprudence by the Supreme Court. A five-judge Constitution bench had read down Section 377 of IPC to the extent that it criminalised “carnal intercourse against the order of nature”.
A provision challenged as being ultra vires the prohibition of discrimination on the grounds only of sex under Article 15(1) is to be assessed not by the objects of the state in enacting it, but by the effect that the provision has on affected individuals and on their fundamental rights.
Any ground of discrimination, direct or indirect, which is founded on a particular understanding of the role of the sex, would not be distinguishable from the discrimination, which is prohibited by Article 15 on the grounds only of sex.
Economy
BoB, Canara hike MCLR on select tenors despite RBIs pause (Page no. 13)
(GS Paper 3, Economy)
State-run lenders Bank of Baroda and Canara Bank have increased their marginal cost of fund-based lending rate (MCLR) on select tenors even as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) kept the repo rate unchanged in its recent policy.
However, the country’s largest lender State Bank of India (SBI), whose actions push other industry players to follow suit, has kept its MCLR unchanged, giving its borrowers some respite.
Bank of Baroda (BOB) has hiked its MCLR by 5 basis points (bps) in select tenors, effective April 12. For overnight tenor, the lender has raised its MCLR by 5 basis points to 7.95 per cent from 7.9 earlier.
The one-year MCLR has been revised to 8.6 per cent from 8.55 per cent earlier. The MCLRs on other tenors have been left unchanged by the lender
Similarly, Canara Bank has hiked six-month and one-year MCLRs by 5 bps to 8.45 per cent and 8.65 per cent, respectively with effect from April 12. The lender has not changed its MCLRs for other tenors.
SBI is offering MCLR for overnight tenor at 7.95 per cent and for one year at 8.5 per cent.