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1. Vice President Inaugurates All India Gandhian Constructive Workers Conference

The Vice President of India has said that the fruits of economic development must reach every section, particularly the poorest of the poor. He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating All India Gandhian Constructive Workers Conference organized by Harijan Sevak Sangh in Gandhi Ashram, here today. The President of Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh, Swami Chidandand Saraswati and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

The Vice President said that we are all privileged that Gandhiji himself framed the constitution, rules and regulations of Harijan Sevak Sangh, which was founded in 1932. He further said that this organization had rendered yeoman services in promoting education among the downtrodden and in fighting against social evils like untouchability. The divisive walls erected in the minds of the people in the name of caste, religion or social hierarchy will have to be removed, he added.

2. Union Home Minister chairs 12th meeting of Standing Committee of Inter-State Council

The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh chaired the 12th meeting of the Standing Committee of Inter-State Council (ISC), here today.

The Punchhi Commission was set up by the Government under the chairmanship of Justice (Retd.) Madan Mohan Punchhi, former Chief Justice of Supreme Court of India in 2005. The Punchhi Commission submitted its report in 2010 containing 273 recommendations in 7 volumes. The 11th meeting of the Standing Committee of ISC was held on 9th April this year after a gap of 11 years and 69 recommendations of the Punchhi Commission relating to the Constitutional provisions on various subjects such as the role of Governors, the Inter-State Council, assent to bills passed by Legislative Assemblies etc. were discussed. The convening of the Standing Committee meetings twice in the same year reflects the importance attached to the promotion of harmonious Centre-State relations.

Addressing the meeting, Shri Rajnath Singh said that a number of steps have been taken in recent years by the Central Government to promote cooperative federalism. He said that the meeting of the Inter State Council, which was held in July, 2016, happened after a gap of 10 years. Subsequent to that, meetings of the Standing Committee of the Inter-State Council are being periodically convened to lend speed and purpose to the process of harmonizing Center State relations, he said. He expressed satisfaction over the fact that the meetings of the Zonal Councils have now become regular and periodical. He also said that our effort is to see that at least one meeting of all the Zonal Councils is convened annually. He mentioned that a number of important State-to-State and Centre-State issues that are raised at these meetings find resolution. In 2015 such 82 issues were resolved and 140 issues were resolved in 2016.

Shri Rajnath Singh expressed satisfaction over the fact that the Inter State Council and the Standing Committee have been rejuvenated. He said that it is important for us to promote the spirit of cooperation with greater zest and zeal and expressed satisfaction over the deliberations held today in harmonious and congenial atmosphere for arriving at consensus on some complex issues that have been covered in the agenda notes.

3. Remarks by shri P. P. Chaudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State for Law & Justice on National Law Day

Courts do not have, what Alexander Hamilton called the “power of the sword or the purse”. They draw their strength not from any police power, but from the moral authority of their judgement. Even unpopular decisions are respected because the judiciary is seen as being the ultimate repository of moral authority. the challenges facing judicial functioning and what is important for the judiciary to continue to retain its moral authority and thereby remain a legitimate and relevant democratic institution are :

• JUDICIAL REVIEW
• COLLEGIUM SYSTEM
• DELAYS IN JUSTICE DELIVERY
• JUDICIAL ACTIVISM

4. The abuse of technology is the main challenge, the common feeling expressed in open forum discussion

In the 48th International Film Festival of India day three of open forum belonged to the discussion on ‘Are Actors Losing Control due to Changing Technologies?’ Pierre Assouline, French Filmmaker, Shyam G K filmmaker from Bengaluru, Swastik Chaudhary, Oriyan Film maker, Amartya Bhattcharya, Bengali filmmaker and Deb Kamal Ganguly, Faculty, FTII participated in the discussion.

Amartya Bhattcharaya in his opening remark said that actor must not take control over cinema. Performing art is very primary because technology is never a replacement of human feelings. While narrating the experience about film making Mr Bhattcharaya said that, he completed a film ‘Benaras-the unexplored attachments’ withDSLR Camera and that won National Cinematography award. Further, he expressed that, abuse of the technology is main challenge & not the use of technology.