Cong will pass bill for protection of land, forests, tribal people's rights in Mizoram: Ramesh
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Saturday promised that if it forms the government in Mizoram it would pass a new bill in the very first session of the new assembly guaranteeing the protection of the land, the forests and the rights of the tribal people of the state.
In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the Modi government "bulldozed" amendments to the Forest Conservation Act during the monsoon session of Parliament that evoked tremendous opposition and outrage across the country, even more so in the northeast.
The Indian National Congress promises that the first session of the new Legislative Assembly of Mizoram led by the Congress will pass a new bill that guarantees to protect the land, the forests and the rights of the tribal people of the state, Ramesh said.
As forests are in the concurrent list, this bill will be sent to the President of India for assent under the provision of Article 254(2), he said.
This is what the Mizo National Front (MNF) government should have done immediately after the Monsoon session of Parliament but didn't do it because it dances to the tune of the BJP, Ramesh alleged.
The Congress leader said that the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) will also not pass such a bill as "they are a party without an ideology, without a programme or an organisation for the people of Mizoram, and will compromise with the BJP in no time".
Polling for the 40-member Mizoram assembly will be held on November 7, and the counting of votes will take place on December 3.
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SC takes cognisance of NCERT class 8 chapter on corruption in judiciary
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday took suo motu cognisance of the contents of the class 8 NCERT textbook referring to corruption in the judiciary and termed it a matter of "grave concern."
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi was urged by senior advocate Kapil Sibal that "children of class 8 are taught about corruption in the judiciary. This is a matter of grave concern."
The CJI said, "I will not allow anybody to defame the institution. Law will take its course."
He added, "As head of the institution, I have done my duty and have taken cognisance … This seems to be a calculated move. I won't say much."
Justice Bagchi said the book seemed to be against the basic structure of the Constitution.
The CJI said, "Please wait for a few days. Bar and Bench all are perturbed. All high court judges are perturbed. I will take up the matter suo motu. I will not allow anybody to defame the institution. Law will take its course."
Later, Justice Kant said that the top court has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter.
Corruption, massive backlog of cases, and lack of an adequate number of judges are among the "challenges" faced by the judicial system, according to the new social science NCERT textbook for class 8.
The section "corruption in the judiciary" in the new book states that judges are bound by a code of conduct that governs not only their behaviour in court, but also how they conduct themselves outside it.
