Unfortunate That The Properties Of Religious And Charitable Institutions Are Being Usurped By Criminals

It is most unfortunate, most alarming and most reprehensible that none other than the Allahabad High Court which is the biggest court in whole of Asia has observed most seriously in a latest, learned, laudable and landmark judgment titled Bharat Das @ Ram Newaz Singh v. State of U.P. in Bail No. 8577 of 2020 delivered on 5 February 2021 that, “It is unfortunate that the properties of religious and charitable institutions are being usurped by criminals. This serious observation was made while dismissing the bail application filed by a man accused of selling properties of a Math (Akhil Bhartiya Udasin Sangat Thakurji Virajman Thakurdwara Jhaaulal) on the basis of forged and fabricated documents in favour of the land mafias. How can criminals be ever allowed to usurp the properties of religious and charitable institutions? But this is happening in reality as has been acknowledged by none other than the Allahabad High Court!

To start with, the ball is set rolling first and foremost in para 1 of this brief, brilliant, blunt and bold judgment wherein it is stated that, “The present petition under Section 439 Cr.P.C. has been filed seeking bail in FIR No.0584 of 2019, under Sections 406, 419, 420, 467, 468, 471, 506 IPC, Police Station P.G.I., Lucknow.”
To put things in perspective, the Bench then elaborates on the facts of the case stating in para 2 that, “The complainant claims to be Mahant Sarvarakar (Jere-Intejaamkaar) of Akhil Bhartiya Udasin Sangat Thakurji Virajman Thakurdwara Jhaaulal (herein after referred to as ‘the Math’). He is responsible for taking care of and managing properties of the Math and securing interest of the Math. It is also said that the complainant has been declared successor of Mahant Parmeshwar Das in the year 2002 unanimously and a Division Bench of this Court vide judgment and order dated 11.01.2016 passed in Writ Petition (Consolidation) No.130 of 2011 has declared him to be the legal heir and successor of Mahant Parmeshwar Das. Copy of the order dated 11.01.2016 was also annexed with the complaint. It is also alleged in the complaint that many imposters claiming to be Mahant of the Math in connivance with the land mafias have sold several properties and land of the Math illegally without taking permission from the District Magistrate. It is further alleged that the present accused-applicant who is a convict and a dreaded criminal by imposting himself as Mahant of Math had been involved in selling the properties of the Math illegally and fraudulently to the land mafias.”
While elaborating further and continuing in a similar vein, the Bench then observes in para 3 that, “The Math has land in Gata Nos.436, 296, 427A, 426, 531, 1951Ka, 1953Ka, 1955Ka, 1960Ka Kalli Paschim, Pargana Bijnore, Tehsil Sarojini Nagar, Lucknow. This land is being transferred on the basis of forged and fabricated documents by a gang of land mafias to earn huge money. Ex-guru of the complainant Somvansh Das had died on 14.04.1980. However, an imposter got his will registered on 04.04.2003 in the office of Dy. Registrar, Lucknow in respect of Gata No.436 and on that basis, this imposter has transferred 3 Bigha land in favour I.K. Singh, 5 Bigha land in favour of Sanjay Tiwari, 1 Bigha 13 Biswa 13 Biswanshi land in favour of Prabhu Nath Tiwari. Forged will got registered by Bharat Singh and the accused-applicant in furtherance of criminal conspiracy and, thereafter accusedIshwar Kant Singh imposted himself as Mahant Parmeshwar Das and transferred the land of Gata No.436 in favour of Satendra Singh Sikarwar on 05.08.2004 for Rs.20,00,000/-. Thereafter, Bharat Singh and the present accused-applicant again transferred the land in Gata Nos.436 and 296 by imposting Ishwar Kant Singh as Parmeshwar Das on 23.11.2016 for a sale consideration of Rs.20,00,000/-. Anil Kumar Singh transferred this land for 3rd time in Gata No.436 on 20.01.2007 in favour of Smt. Manisha Chola and Rekha Gupta. Thereafter, the accused-applicant and Bharat Singh on the basis of forged and fabricated documents of the land in Gata Nos.296, 427A, 426 and 531 executed an agreement for Rs.12,00,000/- on 20.02.2007 in favour of Bharat Singh himself from the accused-applicant and on 16.03.2007 the land was transferred in Gata No.531 in favour of Alpana Gupta for a sale consideration of Rs.36,27,100/-. For the fifth time accused-Bharat Singh and the accused-applicant by imposting Indra Kant Singh as Parmeshwar Das transferred Gata Nos.436 and 296 in the year 2006 in favour of Raj Babu Rastogi. Thus, accused-Bharat Singh and the accused-applicant, Satyendra Kumar Sikarwar, Anil Kumar Singh, Gyaneshwar Singh, Kaushal Kumar, Santosh Singh, Kalpana Gupta, Raj Babu Rastogi had transferred the land of the Government in Gata No.436 and 296 on the basis of forged and fabricated documents. On the basis of forged will which got executed after 23 years from the death of Mahant Somvans Das, these accused have cheated Rs.1.5 Crores by selling the land of the Math on the basis of forged and fabricated documents. These accused had threatened the complainant of his life and had said that they would usurp entire property and land of the Math. On the basis of the aforesaid complaint, the FIR in question has been lodged.” 
Of course, it is then observed in para 4 that, “It is alleged that the present accused-applicant is an imposter who is selling Math land in an illegal manner. Several instances of the cases pending against the accused-applicant have been given in the complaint and, it is alleged that the present accused-applicant has sold the land in Gata Nos.2119, 2118, 676, 2263 also.”
As a corollary, what follows next is then stated in para 5 that, “On the basis of aforesaid complaint, the FIR in question came to be registered against the accused-applicant and other named accused at FIR No.0585 of 2019 under Sections 34, 419, 420, 467, 468, 471, 427, 447, 504 IPC, Police Station P.G.I., Lucknow.”
As we see, para 6 then enunciates that, “It is stated that the accused-applicant has been awarded life imprisonment in Sessions Trial No.46 of 1984 and has been found guilty for offence under Sections 307/34, 301/34, 304/34 IPC. It is further alleged that on 12.02.2007, the accused-applicant acted as an imposter of Mahant executed ikrarnama in favour of Bharat Singh and others. He has also been convicted in Sessions Trial No. 242 of 1979 for offences under Sections 364/149, 302/149, 307/149 IPC and was awarded life imprisonment. In the FIR, it is further alleged that the accused persons by using false and fabricated documents illegally bought and sold the property of the Math by threatening the complainant.”
To be sure, it is then stated in para 7 that, “An affidavit in support of the bail application has been filed by Baba Jeetu Das, son of Mahant Baba Bharat Das.”
It cannot be glossed over that it is put forth in para 9 that, “Learned counsel for the accused-applicant submits that the complainant has falsely claimed that Mahant Parmeshwar Das was Jere-Intejaamkaar of the Math and the informant is the chela of Mahant Parmeshwar Das. The fact of the matter is that the present accused-applicant succeeded as Jere-Intejaamkaar of the Math after demise of Mahant Ramji Das and an order dated 16.07.2005 was passed by Consolidation Officer, Sadar, Lucknow to this effect in Case No.88 of 2005. Present accused-applicant is jere-intejaamkaar of the properties of the land in question till date. Mahant Parmeshwar Das has executed a declaration deed duly registered in the Office of Sub Registrar on 07.09.2012 declaring that the complainant was a dishonest person and wanted to usurp land and properties of Math. The complainant was not the chela of Mahant Parmeshwar Das as claimed by him. Mahant Parmeshwar Das himself had moved an application against the complainant in Police Station Kotwali Chowk on 14.09.2012.”
While stating the factual position, it is then noted in para 10 that, “The correct facts are that Mahant Ramji Das was chela of Somvansh Das and the accused-applicant is chela of Mahant Ramji Das. Allegation against him that he had executed a forged will, is wholly incorrect. Learned counsel has also submitted that the land sold by him was for the purposes of maintaining the Math and for better management of the properties. It has been further submitted that the present complainant himself has a criminal history.”
Furthermore, it is then envisaged in para 11 that, “It is further submitted that in Civil Suit No.155 of 1994 vide judgment and order dated 24.10.1995 passed by Civil Judge by which the present accused-applicant has been declared as successor of Mahant Ramji Das and on the basis of the order dated 18.11.2004 passed by the Consolidation Officer, Sadar Lucknow, name of the accused-applicant has been mutated while deleting the name of Jere-Intejaamkaar, Mahant Baba Ramji Das. Settlement Officer had dismissed the appeal filed against the order passed by the Consolidation Officer and, thereafter the revision was also dismissed by the Additional District Magistrate (Finance and Revenue) vide his order dated 26.04.2010.”
It is worth noting that it is then stated in para 12 that, “A Writ Petition No.130 (Consolidation) of 2011: Mahant Parmeshwar Das vs Additional Collector ‘Finance and Revenue’, Lucknow is pending in this Court. Counter affidavit was filed by the accused-applicant in 2014 but till date the rejoinder affidavit has not been filed and the writ petition is still pending.”
On the one hand, it is stated in para 13 that, “Learned counsel for the accused-applicant has submitted that in many cases mentioned against the accused-applicant, he has been either acquitted or he is not involved in the commission of the offence. He, therefore, has submitted that the accused-applicant himself is grabbing the property of Math and he wants to put the present accused-applicant aside and, therefore, false cases are being instituted against him. The accused-applicant has been in jail since 23.07.2020 and, therefore, he is liable to be enlarged on bail.”
On the contrary, it is then stated in para 14 that, “On the other hand, Mr. Rao Narendra Singh, learned AGA has submitted that it has come in the investigation of the offence that the present accused-applicant fraudulently after preparing forged and fabricated documents, had been selling the properties of the Math by imposting himself as Mahant of the Math whereas he has no right to sell the properties. The accused-applicant had been convicted for life by the III-Additional District Judge, Fatehpur in the year 1981. He is a history sheeter of District Fatehpur and several cases are registered against him.”
It cannot be lightly dismissed that it is then unearthed in para 15 that, “To avoid the police action, he came to the Math as Mahant and as soon as Mahant Ramji Das died, he declared himself as Mahant of the Math by forging the stamp of Gram Sabha Babutha Kala without there being any witness. The fact is that successor of Mahant Ramji Das Ji is his chela, Chacha Dayal Das Awasthi and the Court has declared him to be successor and Mahant of the Math. Present accused-applicant had killed Baba Dayal Das and declared himself to be the successor of Ramji Das. He has also killed Basraj Singh, the witness of the murder of Mahant Dayal Das Awasthi. Mangement of U.P. Udaseen Sampradaya Prabhandh Trust had extricated the present accused-applicant as Mahant on 06.03.2020.”
Damningly, the Bench then also makes it known in para 16 that, “The accused-applicant had presented several of his gang members as imposters of Baba Parmeshwar Das. 23 years after the death of Mahant Soman Das, the accused-applicant had got the forged will registered by imposter of Baba Soman Das.”
More damningly, the Bench then castigates in para 17 stating that, “Despite order passed by the High Court in the writ petition filed by Parmeshwar Das in which stay was granted regarding disposing of the land of the Math, the accused-applicant got registered a forged trust deed namely, Thakur Ji Maharaj Trust and showing his members as disciple (chela) and declared him as treasurer. He started transferring entire money of the Math. The accused had executed several sale-deeds fraudulently on the basis of forged and fabricated documents in favour of the land mafias and there are sufficient evidence against him for committing the offence.”
Most damningly, the Bench then discloses in para 18 bringing out that, “In the counter affidavit, it has been stated that so far following 15 cases have been found against the accused-applicant and investigation is on in respect of other cases:- 
(i) Case Crime No.198/1978, under Section 13 Gambling Act, Police Station Thariyaon, Fatehpur. 
(ii) Case Crime No.199/1978, under Section 25 Arms Act, Police Station Thariyaon, Fatehpur.
(iii) Case Crime No.112/1983, under Section 307 IPC, Police Station Thariyaon, Fathepur.
(iv) Case Crime No.185/1985 under Section 364/302 IPC, Police Station Thariyaon, Fatehpur. 
(v) Case Crime No.14/17, under Section 147, 148, 149, 302, 309 IPC, Police Station Thariyaon, Fatehpur. 
(vi) Case Crime No.346/99 under Sections 302/120B IPC, Police Station Munshiganj, Sultanpur.
(vii) Case Crime No.62/2000 under Sections 147, 148, 149, 452, 302 IPC, Police Station Munshiganj, Amethi. 
(viii) Case Crime No.544 of 2009, under Section 420 IPC, Police Station Mohanlalganj, Lucknow.
(ix) Case Crime No.162/2015 under Sections 452, 504, 506, 323 IPC, Police Station Chowk, Lucknow.
(x) Case Crime No.659/2018, under Sections 120B, 147, 148, 149, 323, 307, 308, 506 IPC, 7 Criminal Law Amendment Act, Police Station Thakurganj, Lucknow.
(xi) Case Crime No.25/2019, under Sections 147, 379 IPC, Police Station P.G.I., Lucknow. 
(xii) Case Crime No.125/2019, under Sections 147, 379, 448 IPC, Police Station P.G.I., Lucknow.
(xiii) Case Crime No.584/2019, under Sections 406, 419, 420, 467, 468, 471, 506 IPC, Police Station P.G.I., Lucknow.
(xiv) Case Crime No.585/2019, under Sections 34/419, 420, 427, 447, 467, 468, 471, 506 IPC, Police Station P.G.I., Lucknow.
(xv) Case Crime No.589/2019, under Sections 147, 419, 420, 467, 468, 471, 506, 34 IPC, Police Station P.G.I., Lucknow.”
Most revealingly, after considering the submissions of the counsel for the accused-applicant as well as learned A.G.A. and learned counsel for the complainant as stated in para 19, it is then finally and far most crucially held in para 20 that, “It is unfortunate that the properties of religious and charitable institutions are being usurped by criminals. Looking at the long criminal history of the accused-applicant and his involvement in the commission of the offence i.e. selling property of the Math by the accused-applicant in active connivance with the land mafias without any authority or competence is serious offence and, therefore, this Court does not find any ground to release the accused-applicant on bail at this stage and this bail application is hereby rejected at this stage.” 
On a concluding note, it must be said that such instances of illegal land grabbing by mafias especially the properties of religious and charitable institutions are becoming more and more common and frequent which is certainly a cause of grave concern. Even the Allahabad High Court itself has noticed this most dangerous trend of religious and charitable institutions being usurped by criminals and mafias. How can all this be allowed to go on unchecked, uninhibited and unpunished? This alone explains why the Allahabad High Court refused to grant bail to the accused-applicant by rejecting the bail application! Very rightly so!
Sanjeev Sirohi

The criminality of marital rape in India

 It is appalling that in this day and age, India still remains a part of the 36 countries in which marital rape is not legal. About 70 per cent of women in India are victims of domestic violence. National Crime Records Bureau’s (NCRB) ‘Crime in India’ 2019 report shows that a woman is raped every 16 minutes, and every four minutes, she experiences cruelty at the hands of her in-laws. An analysis of National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2015-16 data indicates that an estimated 99.1 per cent of sexual violence cases go unreported and that the average Indian woman is 17 times more likely to face sexual violence from her husband than from others.

This is because of the rape culture that is still entrenched in Indian society. Women are considered to be their husbands’ chattel in marriages rather than equal partners, and this reflected itself in the skewed adultery law that was amended because it was discriminatory towards women. Whilst there is great outrage over stranger rapes that are covered with big headlines in newspapers, we must remember that the biggest bearers of sexual violence do not have the social capital to come out with their stories because our society does not understand that consent can be withdrawn in a marriage as well.

This societal disease infiltrates into our legal and governmental establishment as well. Powerful ministers making sexist statements is not unheard of, and judges making their judgements in rape cases to blame the victim are commonplace. This institutional rot cannot be cured without striking the problem at its root.

It is true that legal minutiae have very little impact on the day-to-day affairs of most people in the country, but the law sets a precedent. We all know the legal ban on untouchability has not stopped the practice, but the illegality of it guides the moralities of people and draws a line between what is normal in a civilised society and what is not. Hence, it is important that are laws are amended to deem marital rape a criminal offence that merits high punishment for us to progress as a society.

Disha Ravi granted bail, Court says no real evidence to prove the accusations

Yesterday, while granting bail to environmental activist Disha Ravi in ​​the toolkit case related to the farmers’ movement, the court said that creating a WhatsApp group and editing a toolkit is not a crime. Delhi’s Patiala House Court said on Tuesday, “You cannot put anyone in bars only for disagreeing with the government’s policies.” Late night, Disha was released from Tihar jail.

Additional Sessions Judge Dharmendra Rana strictly said that there is no evidence against Disha that she campaigned with the intention of bringing a bad name to India. There is no evidence that she hatched any conspiracy to spread violence. Many people have been arrested in cases of violence, but not a single one has been proved to have any connection with Disha. The court also said that just to maintain the pride government no one can be charged for treason. 
The court granted direction to bail on the condition of personal bond of one lakh and cooperation in investigation. They will also be prohibited from going out of the country during this period. 
The judge said that the police has no evidence to prove the connection between Disha and the Khalistan supporters of the Poetic Justice Foundation.
Similarly, no such evidence has been produced to prove that Disha is a supporter of separatist ideology and there is some kind of connection between her and the banned organization Sikh for Justice.
Disha Ravi, is an Indian youth climate change activist and a founder of Fridays For Future India. Her arrest on 13 February 2021 for an alleged involvement with an online toolkit related to Greta Thunberg and the 2020–2021 Indian farmers’ protests gained international attention.

The Proposed Ban on Cryptocurrencies

 First launched in 2009, Bitcoin is a kind of cryptocurrency or digital currency that exists completely online. It is decentralized without a single central bank to administer it and the currency is stored in digital wallets. These wallets are backed by private and public keys for security, and the public key is what lets users transact with each other. Because of its decentralized nature and the anonymity associated with it, the currency can be easily traded across users and countries without identifying the person who holds the bitcoin. The popularity of bitcoin has spurred a range of alternate crypto currency including Etherium, Dogecoin and Binance.

The major problem with these private cryptocurrencies is that they create an alternate to real money, which may lead to the problem of ‘double spending.’ Hence, the government had set up a committee in 2017 led by the then Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg to study the issues related to virtual currencies. The committee, in its final report made public in 2019, had drafted a Bill to impose a complete ban on private cryptocurrencies after the regulators expressed their concerns over it.

It is not known what effect this step will have, but many have opposed it because of the inherent flaws in the argument of ‘double spending’ and since Tesla has renewed interest in cryptocurrencies by investing in bitcoin. Only time will tell whether this action will impact the markets significantly or not.

How an Escape Room Supports your Mental Health

 

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

The ongoing pandemic has largely impacted our mental health. The stringent social distancing norms and the constant fear of contagion before stepping out of the house have been undeniably hard to deal with. Once described as social beings, we are even beginning to forget how to carry a simple conversation. The continuous work-from-home cycle has left us thirsty for caffeine and hungry for recreation. While initially, people thought that working from home comes with comfort, it is now evident that most of us are turning less productive because of the grinding routines. Procrastination has made an unwelcome arrival in our lives.   

Mental health, directly and indirectly, affects our lives and relationships. It is as important as our physical health. Having a perfectly healthy body is of no use if we have a low and unhappy mindset. If we stop liking things we used to love doing, we lose our purpose and motivation in life.  

However, millennials have brought these issues to light by openly talking about the importance of a healthy mindset.  

But how are escape rooms making any difference to our mental health? People argue that they are just another source of live entertainment! How are they even related to improving our thought processes and intelligence? Keep reading this article to find out!  

What Happens in an Escape Room and How it Impacts you?  

What happens when you sign up for an escape room? Your first requirement is the presence of a team consisting of at least 2 to 8 members. So, you approach your friends, family, or colleagues to find out who is up for a unique and exciting challenge!  

Even the first step encourages the player to open a conversation with their loved ones. Communicating and getting in touch with people to build stronger bonds helps in forming positive interpersonal relationships. Therapeutic relationships encourage stable mental health.  

Decision-making  

Establishing and maintaining relationships is very important in our daily lives. It helps us know others better and realize that we are all different individuals with distinct perspectives, choices, and opinions.    

When team members deliberate on their choices for escape themes, they learn how to compromise and cooperate so that everyone is satisfied with the final decision.   

When we are around people who are willing to cooperate and compromise, we do the same for them. Biologically speaking, our brain releases serotonin, which modulates our mood positively and makes us pro-social.  

Competition  

When an escape enthusiast is locked up in the room, they are on edge with adrenaline rushing through their veins. They have a goal that has to be completed in under 60 minutes. They have a ticking clock and unforeseen obstacles in their path. It is when our competitive side reveals itself.   

Not only are the players motivated enough to solve the task at hand, but they are also committed to a bigger goal of escaping.  

Healthy levels of competition boost our self-esteem and enjoyment in life. It also stimulates our motivation to keep working hard.  

Motivation  

When commencing the hunt for the clues, we start moving around scour every nook and cranny. We might have moments when we feel like we can’t figure anything out. Our creativity dies down, making us feel uninspired. That is when you motivate yourself or seek inspiration among your teammates.  

Escape rooms challenge your insights about yourself. With only 60 minutes on the clock, the only thing that will help the players escape motivation and perseverance. Virtues like perseverance and endurance are the elements for a fulfilled life.  

Accepting Failure  

When you enter an escape room, the resolve of your team is to win and emerge victoriously. You put your best foot forward in every phase of the game. However, there still are escape games that might catch you off guard, and the odds of losing might become more lavish. Here you are exposed to the concept of trial and error.  

Winning gives you a sense of achievement, something we all love to hold on to. It makes us feel good about ourselves and improves our self-esteem.   

On the other hand, players are also encouraged to understand that it is okay to lose sometimes. Failure doesn’t mean you haven’t done well enough. Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn.   

Want some dopamine rush?  

Playing escape rooms advances your brain to release dopamine (the happy chemical). How? When your brain is deeply-rooted in solving a creative puzzle, areas of alertness and concentration are activated. When you finally reach your Aha! -moment, the sense of accomplishment puts you in a better mood. This chemical is also great for relieving stress and making you think more creatively.   

Book a mind-twisting escape room and experience the rush of dopamine!  

Escape Room Puzzles Can Improve Your Mood 

Confronting difficulties wherein you need to accumulate your brains and join mental aptitude with your colleagues can advance positive pressure, which is the thing that spurs you to win or develop yourself. The surge of adrenaline can trigger endorphins’ arrival, which can upgrade short memory and even fill in as a fantastic jolt of energy. 

Tackling the issues can convey more euphoric outcomes, wherein the feeling of fellowship, difficulty, and considerable achievement leads to satisfaction.

Conclusion  

While our mental health affects everything we do in our lives, what we do in our lives affects our mental health. Therefore, mental health is a two-way road, and one should always be prepared for a long journey.   

Engaging ourselves in exciting and immersive social activities enfolds a positive chain reaction. When we are happy and positive, we tend to work and organize better. When we collect better, we stay productive and well ahead of time.  

That is precisely what escape rooms provide you. We are put in an environment where socializing and coordination are one of the main requirements to win. They keep you happy and involved, hence improving your mental health.   

While escape rooms keep you pleased as punch, they also help you connect and develop meaningful bonds with people.  So, if you are planning on hosting a social activity with friends and family, ditch the cliché game nights and book an exciting escape room!  

Government to issue laws to regulate content on Social media

The central government is set to curb the arbitrariness of social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter. The government is engaged in enacting laws to make them accountable to the Indian Constitution. The government can bring a bill related to it in the second phase of the budget session or the monsoon session.

Actually, there is no law to remove controversial content and bring social media under the purview of the constitution. Social media companies are taking advantage of this.
At the same time, sources say that the government wants to introduce the bill only in the second part of the budget session starting from 8 March. If it is delayed for any reason, the bill will be introduced in the monsoon session. Another cause for concern is that social media is being used by a large number of people.
Around three billion people around the world use Facebook. Among them, its number of users in India is around 32 crores. If we add all the mediums of social media, then this number is more than 500 million, in which Indians topped the number of social media users.
In such a situation, it is difficult to see that there is neither legal nor effective way to monitor the reliability of these platforms.
A court case hearing is going on in the Supreme Court in this dispute case. During the hearing, the government has warned against the threat of social media. The government has said in the apex court that it should be justified to ask to write everything in the name of freedom of expression. The government has also asked the apex court to continue discussions on making laws in this regard.

The Supreme Court has also issued a notice to the Centre and Twitter on a plea, seeking to regulate hate content and to make a law as per which action can be initiated against Twitter and their representatives in India for promoting anti-India tweets and penalize them.
Google is also on target
Australia, in particular, is going to make a law soon to decide the payment in the use of media content on Google. Last week, Australia’s PM Scott Morrison, after talking to PM Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, had emphasized the law against Google.

Upcoming Elections in India

In the new year 2021, as India comes out of a year of lockdown and paused public life, it is going to, by degrees, go back to the pre-coronavirus normalcy. This involves conducting regular elections as well. We can’t expect the new elections to be as difficult to organise and conduct as the Bihar elections of 2020, but elections in a pandemic are yet a new phenomenon and it has to be observed how their handling can impact their results.

This year, we have legislative assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal (in April) and later Jammu and Kashmir. There are also a few bye-elections scheduled. Politicians have already begun campaigning aggressively for all these elections – large crowds in West Bengal attend rallies as the top contenders have a fight of ideologies, and Assam sees an increase in the wages of the tea-growers in light of the upcoming election. The field has gotten even more competitive as E. Shreedharan, also known as the ‘Metro Man’ of India, has joined the BJP in light of the upcoming Kerala elections.


The public and media discourse has also greatly moved on from other political challenges and the coronavirus debates to this – and so have the priorities of the political leaders. Even in the union budget of 2021, there was a major allocation of funds to these states for highway projects and other things. Now the only thing left to see is how these very unpredictable elections turn out for all the political actors involved.

Green nanotechnology and Sustainability

Everybody knows what is nanotechnology, it is the study and control of matter at the nano-scale, rearranging atoms and molecules. Nanotechnology has made marvelous contributions in the world of science especially in computer science and medical science.

But have you heard of green nanotechnology? The name itself suggests that it has something to do with greenery. It is the study of how nanotechnology can benefit the environment, such as by using less energy during the manufacturing process, the ability to recycle products after use and using Eco-friendly materials.

It builds on the principles of green chemistry and green engineering, and focuses on using the unique effects that occur in nano-scale materials.

Green nanotechnology can help to provide clean water to billions of people via novel filtration techniques, and has the ability to decontaminate dirty water. It can help in increasing the use of renewable energy and help in waste management too.

It can also influence the design of nano-materials and products by eliminating or minimizing pollution from the production of these materials.

It is all about making green nano-products and using them in support of sustainability. Sustainable development refers to a development that meets the needs of the present of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It will aim at producing nano-materials without harming environmental or human health.

Nanotechnology can help reduce agricultural waste and bring down pollution levels. Scientists are working on nano-engineered enzymes that will allow simple and cost-effective conversion of cellulose from waste plant parts into ethanol.

Another example is rice husk that can become a source of renewable energy with nanotechnology. When rice husk is burned into thermal energy or bio-fuel a large amount of high quality nano-silica is produced, which can be further utilized to make other materials such as glass or concrete.

Nano sensors dispersed in the field can also detect presence of plant viruses and the level of soil nutrients.

Nanotechnology can reduce manufacturing costs for solar cells as a result of using a low temperature process.

Nanotechnology is being hailed as the next sunrise industry for India. The Department of Science and Technology of the Central Government has announced a national initiative in nano-materials, while the Jawaharlal Nehru Center for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, has pioneered the study of nanotechnology in India. Prof. C.N.R Rao and the center has done world class research in nanotechnology using state of the art equipment.

A stream of nanotechnology-based products is beginning to emerge in India, with applications in the security realm. Besides D.R.D.O. (Defense Research & Development Organization) serious researches are also taking place in institutions like IIT, and Madras University.

Hopefully, in the near future as we advance further in the field of green nanotechnology, it will help us in replacing existing products with Nano-products that are more environment friendly.

Cognizable and non-cognizable offences

Often, in the coverage major trials, we hear the legal terms cognizable and non-cognizable offences. But legal knowledge of the average Indian is average at best and it prevents us from understanding our rights and privileges. Hence, everyone should know what these terms mean.

Under section 2(C) of the CrPC, a cognizable offence is an offence in which a police officer may arrest a person without a warrant issued by a magistrate. Section 2(I) details the converse, i.e., a non-cognizable offence in which a police officer has no authority to arrest without a warrant.

It can be checked whether an offence is cognizable or not by checking the first schedule of the code. However, they are also classified by gravity of the offence – serious offences like rape and murder punishable with imprisonment for not less than 3 years are considered cognizable, and less serious offences like nuisance punishable with imprisonment for less than 3 years are considered non-cognizable.

There are some exceptions to this rule, wherein offences related to marriage and perjury are punished with more than 3 years of imprisonment despite being non-cognizable, and cognizable offences like outraging modesty of women being punished with less than 3 years of imprisonment. 

Every citizen must know which offences he can be arrested with or without a warrant for and the rights he has that the constitution bestows upon him. It only helps us to contribute to making the criminal justice system more accountable, transparent and efficient.

Groundwater crisis in India

Ever since the Green Revolution, farmers’ dependence on intensive inputs like water and fertilizers has resulted in the serious depletion of the underground water table, in many states across the country. 

Farming is becoming increasingly unsustainable in these regions, as the map shows, and there is a heavy need to switch to more sustainable alternatives. However, the reverse has happened. Policymakers have only incentivized more groundwater usage through credit and subsidies for groundwater extraction equipment as well as low electricity tariffs that lead to excessive water usage. This is catastrophic – good for short-term profit, but soon the marginal output of farms will start decreasing and the environment would be beyond recovery. 

The choice of crops is also important – being water-abundant, the east is more suited to growing water-intensive crops like sugarcane and paddy. But differences in electricity supply have ensured that such crops have not found a place in their natural habitat. On the other hand, electricity subsidies and tariffs in the south and west India, regions with low water tables, encouraged sugarcane and paddy cultivation, draining these regions of their already low groundwater.

The need of the hour is to switch to surface water irrigation and other sustainable alternatives to groundwater depletion before it’s too late, and to prioritize crop growing according to what is most sustainable. The government must realize that short-term revenue cannot be the altar at which nature is sacrificed, and that it is for the benefit of all parties involved that unsustainable farming practices are discouraged.

 

Exams coming up? Here’s how to battle examination anxiety

With the examination schedules being declared its hard not to get anxious about our exams. Examination anxiety is a fairly common among students of all age groups, you would think a grown-up would know how to prepare for exams without being stressed out given all their previous experiences but that’s not the case. It is the uneasiness that occurs before, during, or after an examination and is not age-restricted.

Many people experience feelings of anxiety around examinations and find it helpful in some ways, as it can be motivating and create the pressure that is needed to stay focused on one’s performance. Examination nerves or fear of failure are normal for even the most talented student.

However, stress of examination results in such high degrees of anxiety in some students that they are unable to perform at their full potential, like they have shown in less stressful situations.

Sometimes it can result from the pressure to perform well in examination so that they don’t get judged by others (relatives, classmates, teachers), which is often the root cause for their negative thoughts about themselves, feelings of inadequacy, helplessness, and loss of status and self-esteem.

High stress can interfere with the student’s preparation, concentration, and performance so it is very important to manage it effectively so that it doesn’t get in the way of you giving your best performance in the exams. Just like other stressful situations, it is very easy to cope with examination anxiety and here are some ways to do so-

  • Prepare well– Plan it out and give yourself enough time to familiarize yourself with the content and the pattern of the question papers.
  • Multiple rehearsals- Practice as many mock papers as possible, when you are with your friends’ test each other by asking each other questions on the examination topics.
  • Inoculation- When practicing for examinations try to do so in an environment that is similar to the examination hall to prepare yourselves physically and mentally.
  • Think positive- Have faith in your abilities and emphasize on your strengths and try to think positively to motivate yourself.
  • Seek help- When facing a problem, do not hesitate to ask for help from your friends, seniors, teachers or parents. It will help you to feel stress-free and also give you an insight into the problem.

While preparing for examinations, exercising regularly even if a little bit and resting properly before the exam will be really helpful. Overview and weigh one’s strengths and weaknesses, plan a revision timetable, space out revision periods, and most importantly on the examination day concentrate on staying calm.

Coronavirus's Impact on Mental Health

Coronavirus has put the world into a stage it has never seen before – where all activity has to be done without human contact, which is a staple of life. Even though the strict lockdowns have started to ease up and life is gradually coming back to normal, we must acknowledge the impact the pandemic has had not just on people’s physical health and daily routines but on their mental health.

Withdrawing from all social interaction and using electronic gadgets for performing the most basic tasks, as well as the inevitable immobility that accompanies a lockdown, has taken a toll on people’s mental health. Additionally, most people have experienced the effects of the global economic recession which has worsened their condition. A KFF Health Tracking Poll from July 2020 found that many adults are reporting specific negative impacts on their mental health and well-being, such as difficulty sleeping (36%) or eating (32%), increases in alcohol consumption or substance use (12%), and worsening chronic conditions (12%), due to worry and stress over the coronavirus.

There are certain groups that are disproportionately affected by this: the people with low incomes or unstable jobs, and people that have lost close ones to the coronavirus. It is incredibly difficult to be high-functioning in such a scenario which is why many are resorting to substance abuse, because even mental healthcare is inaccessible.

In a situation like this, we must realize that we cannot be as harsh with people as we could before the pandemic. Being productive in such a gloomy and confined atmosphere is difficult, and this is the time in which everyone should stand together in solidarity against the virus and understand each other’s misgivings.

Gradescope: Assessment Platform by Turnitin

 To cope up with the increasing reliability of technology we have a new and advanced tool for grading & assessment which will reduce the manual workload of assessing papers and will provide valuable feedback to the students which will have a learning curve for them. The time saved by the instructors in checking papers manually will help them utilize their time more productively & this will also help the institute to keep records for easier accessing with intuitive reports & analysis.

 

Gradescope  is  a  leading remote assessment  and feedback platform that will be a step forward in this new digital world.
Leveraging the digital rubrics and AI in Gradescope will help instructors cut grading times by up to 80%, increase grading consistency and quality of feedback, and dramatically improve instructor/TA workflow vs. traditional grading.

Gradescope provides actionable feedback to both the students & the instructors.Here are 10 ways Gradescope can help your institute turn grading into learning:
 
1. Gradescope Modernizes Traditional Grading
Gradescope was founded with the belief that there has to be a better way to evaluate student work. By combining deep instructor expertise with the latest machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), Gradescope leverages modern technology to dramatically reduce the pain and time associated with traditional grading.
 
2. Gradescope Streamlines the Workflow
By creating a digital record of student work, Gradescope restructures the traditional grading workflow. Gone are the logistical nightmares associated with transporting and returning stacks of paper, marathon grading parties, and lost in-class time; gains are efficiencies that enable high-quality assessment from anywhere at any time.
 
3. Gradescope Promotes Student Equity
Gradescope helps mitigate opportunities for unconscious bias in two key areas:
By helping graders focus exclusively on the content of an individual answer rather than the students’ overall submission or identity.
By helping teams of graders to build, maintain, and apply one aligned grading standard for all students
The result is a fairer learning experience for students and greater consistency across graders.
 
4. Gradescope Enhances Scoring Flexibility
Built in advance or created on the fly, Gradescope’s Dynamic Rubrics can be constructed collaboratively and adjusted at any time, automatically applying changes to previously graded work and creating a reliable real-time standard for all students. Keyboard shortcuts can help speed up the workflow, helping cut grading time even further.
5. Gradescope Promotes Meaningful Feedback
In addition to quick and consistent feedback, Dynamic Rubrics ensure students receive detailed insight into how points were awarded or deducted. With a richer understanding of evaluation criteria and guidelines around concept mastery, instructors can direct students to the best resources for their individual needs.
 
6. Gradescope Systematizes Grading Patterns
Answer groups and AI-Assisted Grading deliver a more methodical approach to reviewing student work. Gradescope helps instructors digitize student submissions and identify patterns, subsequently arranging them in assessable groups. This process helps eliminate redundancies, saves time, and produces higher quality and consistent feedback at scale.
 
7. Gradescope Accelerates Feedback Loops
Once assessment is complete, graders can immediately publish and notify students with a single click, either directly via Gradescope, emailed, or exported to their institutions’ LMS. Students can then review the feedback and quickly manage confusion or disagreement by initiating a Regrade Request. With the Gradescope workflow, feedback can be timely, detailed, and developmental.
 
8. Gradescope Supports Existing Assessments
The breadth of compatible assignment types is wide-ranging – from paper-based exams, quizzes, and homework, to online assignments, programming assignments, and multiple-choice. Gradescope can accommodate assessment preferences, existing assignments without adjustment, and a variety of disciplines, from humanities to the sciences.
 
9. Gradescope Highlights Student Learning
Gradescope produces meaningful and detailed student performance data to help identify knowledge gaps. Per-question and per-rubric item analytics deliver insight into which concepts were mastered and which were misunderstood. Graders can also measure course-level progress and align to key learning objectives with assignment statistics.
10. Gradescope Helps Refine Instruction
The Gradescope data can also inform improvements to assessment and course content. With targeted visibility into students’ areas of strength and weakness, instructors can address potential roadblocks in real-time and scaffold new concepts appropriately. Gradescope also surfaces insights that can guide long-term curricular improvements and refined lessons that ensure critical learning objectives are truly understood.

Medical seat business in Karnataka for 'medical colleges'

The Income Tax Department has busted the medical seat business in Karnataka carried out by ‘medical colleges’ in which they offered seats to NEET unqualified or NEET qualified candidates with low score for higher package/fees. Evidence has been found  that these institutions have made more than Rs 400 crore in the name of capitation fees.

According to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the raid was reported after investigation was conducted at 56 locations in Karnataka and Kerala of nine major trusts running educational institutions in Bangalore and Mangaluru, including the Medical College. Documents found in the raids have yielded evidence of Rs 402.78 crore being illegally collected in the name of capitation fees. 
This fee was raised through recruiting the students as per the problems involved in the online admission process. The details of this capitation fee were not given to the Income Tax Department. During investigation documents of 2.39 crore undisclosed foreign assets of the trustees have also been found in Ghana.
There was a politics of qualifying the examination after admission. Apart from admissions to these management quota students in medical colleges, a ‘package’ was also being given to pass the examination, for which one lakh to two lakh rupees were being taken.
High ranked students in NEET also joined the racket-
Trustees and directors of medical colleges  found a loophole in the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET). Some students who got high rank in NEET were added through agents. These students used to get admission in these institutions through counseling, however they had already taken admission in any other college. Later, they would withdraw their names from these institutions and this seat would become vacant for the college management.
The National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), formerly the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT), is the qualifying test for MBBS and BDS programmes in Indian medical and dental colleges. It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). NEET qualified students are offered admission for 90,000 seats in MBBS and BDS Colleges of India, the examination is conducted in the month of May every year.

Medical seat business in Karnataka for 'medical colleges'

The Income Tax Department has busted the medical seat business in Karnataka carried out by ‘medical colleges’ in which they offered seats to NEET unqualified or NEET qualified candidates with low score for higher package/fees. Evidence has been found  that these institutions have made more than Rs 400 crore in the name of capitation fees.

According to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the raid was reported after investigation was conducted at 56 locations in Karnataka and Kerala of nine major trusts running educational institutions in Bangalore and Mangaluru, including the Medical College. Documents found in the raids have yielded evidence of Rs 402.78 crore being illegally collected in the name of capitation fees. 
This fee was raised through recruiting the students as per the problems involved in the online admission process. The details of this capitation fee were not given to the Income Tax Department. During investigation documents of 2.39 crore undisclosed foreign assets of the trustees have also been found in Ghana.
There was a politics of qualifying the examination after admission. Apart from admissions to these management quota students in medical colleges, a ‘package’ was also being given to pass the examination, for which one lakh to two lakh rupees were being taken.
High ranked students in NEET also joined the racket-
Trustees and directors of medical colleges  found a loophole in the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET). Some students who got high rank in NEET were added through agents. These students used to get admission in these institutions through counseling, however they had already taken admission in any other college. Later, they would withdraw their names from these institutions and this seat would become vacant for the college management.
The National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), formerly the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT), is the qualifying test for MBBS and BDS programmes in Indian medical and dental colleges. It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). NEET qualified students are offered admission for 90,000 seats in MBBS and BDS Colleges of India, the examination is conducted in the month of May every year.