Maldives gets two Made in India warships (GS Paper 2, International Relation)
Why in news?
- During his three-day visit to the Maldives, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh handed over two Made in India warships to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
Key Highlights:
- One of them, a fast patrol vessel (FPV), capable of coastal and offshore surveillance at high speeds, was commissioned as MNDF Coast Guard ship Huravee.
- The other vessel he presented was a landing craft assault (LCA), capable of carrying personnel and equipment and landing them on a beach in the face of opposition.
- In the Union Budget for 2023-24, India allocated Rs 400 crore to the Maldives, towards lines of credit for the supply of such Indian defence assistance.
Background:
- It is a symbol of the shared commitment of India and the Maldives towards peace and security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- The ties emanate from the twin policies of ‘Neighbourhood First’ and ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region).
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited to the Maldives in June 2019, in which he emphasised that within India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ priority, “Maldives is top priority”.
Centre plans panel to find alternative to death by hanging
(GS Paper 2, Judiciary)
Why in news?
- Recently, the government apprised the Supreme Court that it is considering the formation of a committee to examine the need for a painless and more dignified alternative to death by hanging.
- Appearing before a Bench led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, Attorney General sought time till July to report back to the Supreme Court.
Background:
- In March, the court had asked the government to provide data which may give a clue to a more acceptable method of executing prisoners other than death by hanging.
- The Chief Justice had in that hearing suggested to the government the formation of a committee with experts from the national law universities, professors of law, doctors and scientific persons.
- The court had indicated to the Centre that it may even direct an alternative method of executing capital punishments if it was proved that there was a more “humane” method of execution which would render death by hanging unconstitutional.
What was the case before SC?
- The court was hearing a petition filed by advocate Rishi Malhotra challenging the constitutionality of death by hanging as a mode of execution.
- Section 354 (5) of the Code of Criminal Procedure mandates that a person sentenced to death shall “be hanged by the neck till he is dead”.
- In fact, in 2018, the Centre had filed an affidavit supporting death by hanging. It had not found the method of execution “inhuman and cruel” compared to lethal injections.
Cantonments to go as curtains come down on ‘archaic colonial practice’
(GS Paper 2, Polity and Governance)
Why in news?
Details:
- The military area within the cantonment will be converted into a military station and the civil area will merge with the municipality and assets of the Cantonment Board will be taken over by the neighbouring municipalities.
- This is a major departure from the “archaic colonial practice of creating cantonments”.
Significance:
- Civilians who were, until now, not getting access to state government welfare schemes through the municipality, will now be in a position to avail them.
- As far as the Army is concerned, it too can now focus on the development of the military station.
Background:
- At the time of Independence there were 56 cantonments and 6 more were notified after 1947, the last one being Ajmer in 1962.
- According to records maintained by the Defence Estates Offices, the defence ministry is the largest landowner in the country, with about 17.99 lakh acre.
- Of this, approximately 1.61 lakh acre is held within the 62 notified cantonments. The remaining land, around 16.38 lakh acre, is spread across the country and outside the cantonments.
- Affairs related to the cantonments, including construction of new buildings, height of building, commercial conversion, sewage and rest were all controlled by the Cantonment Board.
- The excision has happened earlier in Ambala and Agra while cantonments like Dharamshala, Sitapur among others were de-notified before 1947.
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