LAW AND GOVERNANCE
Supreme Court to Examine State Ownership Impact on Company Status Under Article 12
The Supreme Court has accepted a petition from the Kerala Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation (KITCO) in the case of KITCO v. Welfare Association of KITCO Employees to determine whether a company, with shares held by Public Sector Undertakings, qualifies as a State instrumentality under Article 12 of the Constitution. This follows a challenge to a Kerala High Court ruling asserting KITCO’s status as a State instrumentality. The Court has issued notice on a related Special Leave Petition and stayed the Kerala High Court’s judgment. The case raises crucial questions regarding corporate-state relationships under constitutional provisions.
Supreme Court Emphasizes Detailed Chargesheets Crucial for Criminal Justice
Highlighting concerns over insufficiently detailed chargesheets, the Supreme Court underscored the necessity for comprehensive documentation of facts and evidence in the case of Crl. Appeal @ SLP (Crl.) No. 1074 of 2017 & Ors. Referring to recent judgments, the Court directed that chargesheets must include specific details outlined in Section 173(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The judgment emphasizes the pivotal role of chargesheets in initiating legal proceedings and summoning accused individuals, stressing the importance of adherence to procedural requirements for effective criminal justice.
Supreme Court Asserts Juvenility Plea Validity Even After Case Disposal
In a significant ruling in the case of Unspecified, the Supreme Court emphasized that the plea of juvenility can be raised before any court at any stage, even post-case disposal. Criticizing the High Court’s failure to address the appellant’s plea adequately, the Court reiterated the necessity for a proper inquiry into such claims, as mandated by the Juvenile Justice Act. Referencing relevant precedents, the Court upheld the right to assert juvenility, regardless of the case stage, and directed a thorough inquiry into the appellant’s claim, underscoring the importance of procedural fairness in juvenile justice cases.
GOVERNMENT SCHEMES
WISE-PhD
(Department of Science and Technology)
Objectives: WISE-PhD aims to empower women in STEM fields by providing financial support for Ph.D. research, fostering independent projects, and promoting knowledge dissemination through SSR.
Eligibility: Women between 27 to 45 years old with a post-graduation degree in Basic or Applied Sciences, excluding those in regular employment, are eligible. Candidates can apply whether they’re already registered for a Ph.D. or not, but not if they’ve completed two years of Ph.D. by the application date.
Criteria: Applicants must hold an M.Sc./M.Tech. or equivalent degree in Basic and Applied Sciences. Age limits apply, with a relaxation for SC/ST/PH candidates. Women in regular employment are ineligible. The scheme supports research in five scientific disciplines for a maximum of five years or until thesis submission. The fellowship includes a monthly stipend, HRA, research grant, and institutional overhead charges.
SUMAN Yojana
(Ministry of Union Health and Family Welfare)
Objectives: SUMAN Yojana aims to provide affordable and quality healthcare solutions to pregnant women and newborns, offering zero-expense access to antenatal check-ups, delivery, and postnatal care. It ensures zero tolerance for denial of services, provides free transport to health facilities, and promotes respectful care and breastfeeding support.
Eligibility: All pregnant women, regardless of category (APL/BPL), and newborns up to 6 months old, along with lactating mothers up to 6 months post-delivery, are eligible for benefits under the PM SUMAN Yojana.
Criteria: Pregnant women receive four antenatal check-ups, access to delivery and C-section facilities at public health facilities, Tetanus-Diphtheria injections, iron-folic acid supplementation, and six home-based newborn care visits. The scheme also covers counseling and IEC/BCC facilities for safe motherhood, ensuring hassle-free access to medical facilities for pregnant women and newborns.
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