Bonedi Bari Puja, Horseshoe Crab, Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT)

(General Studies II – Polity Section – Indian Constitution—Historical Underpinnings, Evolution, Features, Amendments, Significant Provisions and Basic Structure; Separation of Powers between various organs Dispute Redressal Mechanisms and Institutions. Structure, Organization and Functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government.)

• India’s judiciary is infamous for its delayed justice, which often discourages people from seeking legal recourse.
• As President Droupadi Murmu highlighted, these delays, termed “black coat syndrome”, lead to fears that litigation may complicate rather than resolve issues.
• Contributing to these delays are ineffective case management, adjournments, and systemic inefficiencies.

Key Factors Contributing to Delays –

1. Ineffective Case Management: The inconsistent enforcement of timelines and lack of clear scheduling practices in district courts lead to significant delays. Initiatives like the Case Flow Management Rules aimed at streamlining scheduling have failed to produce widespread impact due to poor implementation.
2. Performance Evaluation of Judges: The unit’s system for evaluating judges incentivizes the disposal of simple cases over complex ones. Judges prioritize cases that earn them more “points” quickly, which diverts attention from more complex cases that require greater judicial intervention.
3. Lawyers’ Strategic Behavior: They strategically request adjournments, knowing judges are likely to grant them, contributing to an already clogged court system. Unpredictable court schedules further encourage such practices.
4. Use of Stays and Interim Orders: Stays and interim orders are frequently used as delay tactics, especially in civil cases. Litigants who secure a stay order often have little incentive to push for case resolution, contributing to the backlog of unresolved cases.
5. Witness Management: Witnesses often rearrange their personal lives only to have their testimonies deferred due to court adjournments, which discourages timely participation and further prolongs trials.

Proposed Solutions –

1. Reform the Units System: A balanced approach where judges are rewarded for resolving both simple and complex cases will prevent the neglect of cases requiring substantial judicial effort. This would incentivize judges to focus on case quality rather than just quantity.
2. Predictable Scheduling for Lawyers: Implementing predictable court schedules using technology would help lawyers plan their cases better and reduce unnecessary adjournments. Technological tools can provide real-time updates and hearing schedules to ensure better time management across cases.
3. Penalties for Unnecessary Delays: Introducing penalties for adjournments and delays, coupled with rewards for lawyers adhering to schedules, would discourage unnecessary extensions and improve court efficiency.
4. Regular Review of Stay Orders: Making stays and interim orders temporary and subject to regular review will prevent them from being used as a tactic to indefinitely stall cases.
5. Use of Technology for Case Management: Data-driven case management systems can track timelines, identify bottlenecks, and improve the efficiency of case scheduling.

India’s judicial delays demand holistic reforms that focus on improving case management, reforming the unit system, and using technology to enhance scheduling. By focusing on the human element in judicial delays—judges, lawyers, and litigants—these reforms can help alleviate the backlog and ensure timely justice.

• Bonedi Bari Durga Pujas are among Kolkata’s oldest and most culturally significant celebrations, with some dating back over 400 years, predating British rule in India.
• Held at aristocratic households, these pujas reflect deep historical, cultural, and familial traditions that began as early as 1610, showcasing their long-standing heritage.
• These pujas maintain long-standing customs, such as using traditional moulds for idols.
• Employing the same families of pandits, idol makers, and dhakis (drummers) for generations.
• Earlier Animal Sacrifices are being replaced with changing times.
• The continuity of these practices showcases the deep-rooted cultural identity of Kolkata.
• The rituals and responsibilities are traditionally passed down through male heirs, although recently women have taken on leading roles in managing the puja.
• Bonedi Bari Pujas are integral to Kolkata’s cultural fabric. The public often visits these pujas, which serve as living museums of the city’s rich past and present cultural diversity.

Dig Deeper: Read about India’s other Intangible Cultural Heritage Arts and Traditions.

• The dwindling population of horseshoe crabs along Odisha’s coast has raised concerns among scientists and conservationists.
• These are living fossils, surviving for 445 million years without morphological changes.
• The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in collaboration with the Odisha Forest Department in 2023 began tagging horseshoe crabs to understand their movements and population dynamics, a crucial step toward their conservation.
• Horseshoe crabs Class: Merostomata.
• India is home to two species of horseshoe crabs: Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda and Tachypleus gigas, found along Odisha’s coast.
• Threats:
• They travel considerable distances but are often caught in fishing nets, leading to mortality.
• The species faces habitat destruction due to shoreline fortifications, encroachment, and human activities that degrade spawning grounds.
• The decline of mangrove forests and the transformation of sandy beaches further threaten their natural habitat.
• Horseshoe crab blood, used to produce Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL) for medical testing, is highly valued, with up to 30% mortality in the process of blood extraction.
• Conservation Efforts:
• Scientists propose measures like artificial breeding or protecting spawning grounds if a significant decline is observed.
• Conservationists suggest establishing a conservation reserve along Odisha’s Balasore coast, where safe spawning grounds are documented.
• Coastal Regulatory Zones (CRZ-1 A) have been declared in some areas to protect the species, restricting certain human activities.

Dig Deeper: Read more about Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate.

• The Prime Minister of India visited Laos to attend the 21^st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19^th East Asia Summit.
• Crucial summit amid ethnic conflict in Myanmar and tensions in the South China Sea.
• The visit marks a decade of India’s Act East Policy, with ASEAN being a central pillar of this policy and India’s Indo-Pacific vision.
• Laos, the current ASEAN chair, is hosting the event.
• The ASEAN summit is significant due to regional maritime tensions between the Philippines and China, and the ongoing crisis in Myanmar, where ethnic groups are achieving victories against the military junta.
• The PM will also witness the Lao adaptation of the Indian epic Ramayana, known locally as Phra Lak Phra Lam, reflecting cultural ties between India and Southeast Asia.

India-ASEAN Summit Agreements:

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI):

• India will share its expertise in DPI to support ASEAN’s development.
• Both sides will explore cross-border payment system linkages through digital solutions.

Strategic Partnerships:

• Strengthening the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.
• Reaffirming commitment to maritime safety, security, and the peaceful resolution of disputes, particularly in the South China Sea.

Digital Transformation and AI:

• Collaboration on fintech innovations, digital financial solutions, and cybersecurity to support the digital economy.
• Joint efforts in leveraging AI technologies responsibly to enhance infrastructure, risk management, and policy frameworks.

Regional Tensions and Cooperation:

• The summit takes place amidst tensions between the Philippines and China over maritime rights and the ongoing crisis in Myanmar.
• India and Japan discussed enhancing cooperation in areas like infrastructure, connectivity, and defence during a bilateral meeting.

Dig Deeper: Locate ASEAN countries on the map and their capital from the Equator.

• The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) declared Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) a terrorist organisation under 1^st schedule of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.
• Activities of HuT:
• The outfit is involved in radicalising gullible youths to join terrorist organisations and raise funds for terror activities.
• HuT aims to establish an Islamic state and Caliphate globally, including in India, by overthrowing democratically elected governments through jihad.
• It promotes terrorism through social media platforms, secure apps and by conducting Dawah meetings.
• HuT is active in Bangladesh also.
• It is the 45^th outfit to be banned in India.
• The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested an alleged member of HuT, state ‘amir’ of HuT in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in a case relating to a conspiracy involving the spread of disaffection and secessionism.

Dig Deeper: Read about various organisations arising out of Bangladesh with the potential to threaten the Internal Security of India.