Tag: General Awareness

What are the farm laws?

Everywhere in the news, there are different refrains about the protests and opinions for and against the new farm laws. But what exactly are these laws and how do they change the status quo? These laws are: The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act. They were passed in June as ordinances before being approved by Parliament during the Monsoon Session by a voice vote.

The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act provides for setting up a mechanism allowing the farmers to sell their farm produces outside the Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs). Before this law, they could only sell it in the government APMCs or ‘mandis.’ Now, any licence-holding trader can buy the produce from the farmers at mutually agreed prices, which will be free of the ‘mandi tax’ imposed by state governments. Some think this will allow agribusinesses to monopolize the market through initially low prices and exploit farmers, and some think it will result in better prices for the farmers and a more efficient agricultural market because of more choices.


The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act allows farmers to do contract farming and market their produces freely. Some think it will result in the wage slavery of farmers but others think it will increase investment in the agricultural sector.


The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act is an amendment to the existing Essential Commodities Act. This law freed items such as food grains, pulses, edible oils and onion for trade except in extraordinary situations. As such, it is not as contentious as the previous 2 laws.


The main grouse of the protesting farmers with these laws, especially the first one, is the lack of an MSP (minimum standard price) assurance. They believe they will suffer because of big businesses reducing prices after monopolizing the markets. However, the people that oppose this idea believe that the MSP system is inefficient and only results in wastage. Only time can tell who will win this battle of ideas and what will happen to the agricultural sector.

The history of Handicrafts

A handicraft, sometimes more precisely expressed as artisanal handicraft or handmade, is any of a wide variety of types of work where useful and decorative objects are made completely by hand or by using only simple tools.

It is a traditional main sector of craft and applies to a wide range of creative and design activities that are related to making things with one’s hands and skill, including work with textiles, moldable and rigid materials, paper, plant fibers, etc. One of the world’s oldest handicraft is Dhokhra; this is a sort of metal casting that has been used in India for over 4,000 years and is still used. In Iranian Baluchistan, women still make red ware hand made pottery with dotted ornaments much similar to the 5000 year old pottery tradition of Kalpugran, an archaeological site near the village . Usually, the term is applied to traditional techniques of creating items (whether for personal use or as products) that are both practical and aesthetic. Handicraft industries are those that produce things with hands to meet the needs of the people in their locality. Machines are not used.


Simple “arts and crafts” projects are a common elementary and middle school activity in both mainstream and alternative education systems around the world.

Handicraft is about processing materials by hand with hand tools. The results can be helpful things or decorative things. The materials utilized in the product are natural, industrially processed or maybe recycled. The models of the product are ancient, revised traditional or fashionable. Handicraft is deeply frozen in society and contributes to preserving and sending traditions. In their product, crafters transfer an area of their cultural heritage in ideas, forms, materials and work ways, similarly as their own values, philosophy of life, fashion and self-image. Craftspeople, conjointly known as artisans, possess technical data of materials and work ways. They’re skilled employees whose profession relies on manual skills. Their main tools are the power of work strategies and their manual skills. Handicraft contains plenty of implicit data which grows every year, aboard with skills. The order and apprentice system has been widely used to transfer skills and implicit data.

Theme-based craft is a comprehensive, well-organized backline master of fascinating, supported the following in style five choose themes – Needle Work, tribal Crafts, fiber And Eco friendly Crafts, Fashion Accessories and festal Decorations providing in-depth info regarding the craft, products, sellers and awarded master craft persons in these particular crafts.


Among the many handicrafts around the world, Indian Handicrafts Items goes back to one of the oldest civilisations in the world, the Indus Valley Civilization. The handicrafts industry in India flourished, during the mediaeval period, and continued to grow until the beginning of British came India.


As the handicrafts industry was entirely based on the skills of one’s hands, it took time and hard work to complete a creation. As a result, the price of which it was to be sold was also high. But the machine made British goods, were cheaper, and soon people began to drift towards the British market.

Another reason for the British taking over the handicrafts Industry is the fact that the raw materials that were needed for making various items were derived from nature, and so they were not meant to last for long. So the process by which the finished products were made to last longer be time-consuming, and also costly.

Suicidal Tendency

Suicide is the act of taking one’s own life. It is said to be the third leading cause of death for the people in India. Suicidal behavior refers to talking about things elated to ending one’s life and suicidal thoughts refer to taking actions related to it. They are different from the actual action of suicide and does not include in the final act of suicide. It is a tragic reaction to stressful life situations as taking life of ourselves is an irreversible action.

The youth of the world is at a greater risk of suicide because the present times are of competition and everyone feels the need to succeed by outshining others. The teenagers think that it necessary to fit in their social groups for which they take actions that were not actually necessary and end up either being blackmailed or blackmailing others. Also due to the education system, there is a lot of pressure on the students and many of them are not able to cope up with it and think of suicide as the only option of escaping. Sometimes people also face financial crunch or go through a broken relationship which causes them overwhelming stress with which they are not able to cope up and take drastic actions.

In the time of the lockdown, many of the families faced financial problems as businesses were shut and many people faced unemployment. Also people were not able to cope up with the sudden change in their lives as they were not able to go out and meet others. Many were left with the feeling of loneliness and helplessness and many had the fear of contacting the virus. All these reasons also amounted in the increase in the suicide rates. Also there are many instances of celebrities committing suicide as they were in depression, which also tells us that a large amount of name and fame does not always make a person happy.

Preventing suicides is easy and we can help ourselves as well as others if they are suffering from it. If we feel a person’s behavior is suicidal, we can always ask them if they are thinking about suicide, keeping the person safe by removing things which can be used as a means to commit to suicide, having regular follow ups even after the tendency of suicide is over and it can always resurface, and the most important way is to always listen to the person without any judgment or biasness as being there for a person is enough to make them feel comfortable.

Environmental Law Principles adopted by India

 

The Indian courts have successfully adopted specific environmental law principles from international environmental law jurisprudence and have combined a liberal view towards ensuring social justice and the protection of human rights. These principles have been incorporated in the Indian environmental jurisprudence and play a key role in decisions of judges even when not explicitly mentioned in the concerned statute. The principles of Indian environmental law are resident in the judicial interpretation of laws and the Constitution, and encompass several internationally recognized principles, thereby providing some semblance of consistency between domestic and global environmental standards.

 

1. Precautionary Principle:

 

A new principle for guiding human activities, to prevent harm to the environment and to human health, has been emerging during the past 10 years. It is called the “principle of  precautionary action” or the “precautionary principle” in short. This principle is controversial and its definition varies in terms of viewpoint. Environmentalists and consumer advocacy organizations that demand bans and restrictions on industrial practices or products would want policy-makers to take no action unless they would do no harm. States and advocates of economic development argue that the lack of full certainty is not a justification for preventing an action that might be harmful.

 

In India, for the first time in Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum v. Union of India , the Supreme Court explicitly recognized the precautionary principle. as a principle of Indian environmental law. In S. Jagannath v Union of India (Shrimp Culture Case), the Supreme Court Bench headed by Justice Kuldip Singh required the authority to deal with the situation created by the shrimp industry and issued remedial directions consistent with the precautionary and polluter pays principles. In A.P. Pollution Control Board v Prof M.V. Nayudu, the Court drew out the development of the precautionary principle in clear terms.

 

In the Narmada Bachao Andolan v Union of India, the Court explained that:

When there is a state of uncertainty due to the lack of data or material about the extent of damage or pollution likely to be caused, then, in order to maintain the ecology balance, the burden of proof that the said balance will be maintained must necessarily be on the industry or the unit which is likely to cause pollution.. Refusing to apply the “precautionary principle” used in cases dealing with inherently polluting activities such as heavy industries, the Court accepted the contention of the respondents that the project would have a positive impact by arresting the ecological degradation presently taking place in the drought-prone areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan, leading to sustainable agriculture and spread of green cover. The generation of hydropower would avoid the air pollution that would otherwise take place by thermal generation.

 

The movement towards adopting the precautionary principle has definitely widened the scope of corporate accountability, but the interpretation taken by the court mitigates the relevance and incorporation of this principle in Indian Jurisprudence.

 

2. The .Polluter Pays. Principle:

 

The Supreme Court with the introduction of the principle of absolute liability in M.C Mehta v Union of India calculates environmental damages not on the basis of a claim put forward by either party, but through an examination of the situation by the Court, keeping in mind factors such as the deterrent nature of the award. . This rule has been endorsed in Indian Council for Enviro-Legal action v Union of India and Vellore Citizens welfare Forum v Union of India. However, the Supreme Court held recently that the power under Article 32 to award damages, or even exemplary damages to compensate environmental harm, would not extend to the levy of a pollution fine.

 

3. Sustainable Development and Inter-generational Equity:

 

In Narmada Bachao Andolan v. Union of India43 it was observed that: Sustainable

development means what type or extent of development can take place, which can be sustained by nature/ecology with or without mitigation.. Earlier in the Vellore Citizens Welfare forum v Union of India , the traditional concept that development and ecology were opposed to each other was rejected and sustainable development was adopted. In the Taj Trapezium case this principle was accepted and again it was said that development of industry is essential for the economy of the country but at the same time the environment and ecosystem has to be protected.

 

In State of Himachal Pradesh v. Ganesh Wood Products, the Supreme Court invalidated forest-based industry, recognizing the principle of inter-generational equity as being central to the conservation of forest resources and sustainable development. In the CRZNotification case 46 the courts carried forward the concern for sustainable development by expressing its concern at the adverse ecological effects, which will have to be borne by future generations.

4. Public Trust Doctrine:

 

The  Public  Trust  Doctrine,  evolved in M.C. Mehta  v.  Kamal Nath,  states  that  certain common  properties  such  as  rivers,  forests,  seashores  and  the  air  were  held  by  Government  in  Trusteeship  for  the  free  and  unimpeded  use  of  the  general public. Granting lease to a motel located at the bank of the River Beas  would interfere with the natural flow of the water and that the State Government had  breached  the  public  trust  doctrine. The Supreme Court enunciated Professor

Joseph Saxs doctrine of public trust in this case to further justify and perhaps extract state initiative to conserve natural resources, held that the state, as a trustee of all natural resources, was under a legal duty to protect them; and that the resources were meant for public use and could not be transferred to private ownership. This doctrine was further reiterated in M.I Builders Pvt Ltd v Radhey Shyam Sahu.

Doctrine of Notional Extension under the Workmen Compensation Act, 1923

 

There is no problem in detecting that the accident occurred in the course of employment when a workman is injured in the working place and in the working hour and doing his duty. The problem arises when these elements do not coincide together. But a workmen if injured just near the work premises or just before joining the work or in the way to work problem arises. To address this kind of problem and giving some kind of relief to the workmen the theory of notional extension evolved.

“As a rule, the employment of a workman does not commence until he has reached the place of employment and does not continue when he has left the place of employment, the journey to and from the place of employment being excluded. It is now well-settled, however, that this is subject to the theory of notional extension of the employer’s premises so as to include an area which the workman passes and repasses in going to and in leaving the actual place of work. There may be some reasonable extension in both time and place and a workman may be regarded as in the course of his employment even though he had not reached or had left his employer’s premises. The facts and circumstances of each case will have to be examined very carefully in order to determine whether the accident arose out of and in the course of the employment of a workman, keeping in view at all times this theory of notional extension.” 

Wider interpretation of duty:

Court has given a wider and popular meaning of “duty” to expand the scope of this section. The court also talks about the service contract to determine which can be come under the preview of this section. Justice Cozens-Hardy M. R. said “……… it was an implied term of the contract of service that these trains should be provided by the employers, and that the colliers should have the right, if not the obligation, to travel to and from without charge.” In the next case the court has interpreted the term “duty” in stricter sense.

In Weaver v. Tredegar Iron Coal Co.  House of Lords after examining a large number of authorities given a wider meaning of “duty” but did not negated the duty test.In this case lord Atkin said that there can be no doubt that the course of employment cannot be limited to the time or place of the specific work which the workman is employed to do. It does not necessarily end when the “‘down tools” signal is given, or when the actual workshop where he is working is left. In other words, the employment may run on its course by its own momentum beyond the actual stopping place. There may be some reasonable extension in both time and space.” Lord Porter further said that if an accident occurs while coming to the workplace or leaving the place can be out of and in the course of employment if he is bound by the way he proceed under the terms of the contract of service express or implied. Here duty test was confirmed.

Expanding the preview of Service Contract:

In St. Helens Colliery Co Ltd v. Hewlston  the court said that the injury did not occur in the course of employment because the employee was not bound or obliged to travel by that special train and he could have taken other transport. If he were bound by the service contract to travel by that train then it would have been in the course of employment (Lord Buckmaster). It was also added that if the place of work is like that there is no alternative means of transport other than the transport given by the employer then it can be concluded that there is an implied term in the service contract to use that transport (Lord Atkinson). The same view was taken in Mackenzie v. I.M. Issak says that a workman in a colliery is not in course of his employment while using the transport of the employer if he is not bound by the terms of the contract to travel by that transport.

There was a particular situation where employee has to take bus service to reach his workplace from home and vise versa. It was necessary for doing his duty efficiently and punctually which was a condition under his service  . So, travelling in that bus was an implied condition to his duty. It was also said that this doctrine was developed to cover the factory, workshops and harbors but it can be applied in this kind of situation also. Compensation was granted holding that the accident arising in the course of employment. Though the court said what would be the indicator that when the work starts and ceases that depends on case to case basis.

In Union of India v. Mrs . Noor Jahan  a railway gangman was ordered by his employer to go to another place for cleaning and in the way from one place to another accident happened. Justice Sukla observed that the accident has occurred in the duty hour and when he was going to do his duty on behalf of his employer and he concluded that the accident has occurred in the course of his employment.

Public Place and this Doctrine:

There are some situations where this doctrine does not apply. When a workman is on the public road or public place and not there for fulfilling the obligation and his work does not make necessary to be there. The proximity of the work premises and spot of accident become immaterial. The notional extension of the place of work cease when workman come to a public road. There were some clarification made in the next case in this matter.

In Saurashtra Salt Manufacturing Co. v. Valu Raja  Justice Jafer Imam said that,

“It is well settled that when a workman is on a public road or a public place or on a public transport he is there as any other member of the public and is not there in the course of his employment unless the very nature of his employment makes it necessary for him to be there. A workman is not in the course of his employment from the moment he leaves his home and is on his way to his work. He certainly is in the course of his employment if he reaches the place of work or a point or an area which comes within the theory of notional extension, outside of which the employer is not liable to pay compensation for any accident happening to him.”

Laws that a layman should know about

 

Indian Constitution has provided several rights to the people to protect their fundamental rights, but unfortunately, most people are not aware of their rights. Below are some laws and the rights which not only protect people’s interests but also ease their daily life.

1. If your cylinder explodes you are entitled to Rs. 40 lakh cover!

Many of us are unaware that domestic LPG consumers are entitled to a cover of Rs. 40 lakh in case of loss of life or damage to property due to cylinder explosions.

2. Penalised for receiving gifts? Yes, they can be bribes.

It has become a tradition for companies to send gifts! As these gifts can be carefully veiled bribes, the law is a smart move by the government to avoid situations of bribery.

3. Only female officers can escort women to the police station

Not only do male officers have no right to escort a woman but she can refuse to go to the police station between 6 pm to 6 am. In case of a serious crime, a written permit from the magistrate is required for male officers to escort her.

4. The tax recovery officer can arrest and release you

In case of tax violations, the TRO has the right to arrest you, though a summon has to be sent. The tax commissioner only decides how long can you be in custody, but your release will be decided by the TRO. This has been mentioned in the Income-tax Act, 1961 .

5. No traffic violation laws for non-motorised vehicles

Though it has been clarified that a golf cart is not allowed on the road but there aren’t any penalties against non motor vehicles like a cycles or rickshaws, since they don’t fall under the Motor Vehicles Act.

6. Women can lodge complaints through emails

Guidelines issued by the Delhi Police entitle women to the privilege of registering a complaint via email or even through post if she can’t go to the police station.

7. Live-in relationships are not illegal

Though it is frowned upon in our country, but as long as both the adults are ready to stay together, live-in relationships are not illegal. Moreover, live-in relationships are considered to be ‘equal to marriage’ if certain conditions are met few of which are pooling of financial and domestic arrangements, entrusting the responsibility, sexual relationship, bearing children, socialization in public and intention, conduct of the parties, etc. This is done to protect women under the Domestic Violence Act. Also, children born out of live-in relationships have the right to inherit their parent’s property.

8. Political parties can solicit your vehicle during elections

During the time of elections, a political party can solicit your car or bike for campaigning purposes after deciding a settlement with you. Also, parties cannot offer free rides to and fro from poll booths.

9. If you have been fined once in the day you maybe excused after that

Riding around without a helmet can land you into trouble, but once you are fined for it, the chalaan slip can get you out of being fined for the same till midnight. Yes, but this is not an encouragement to do so. Be safe while driving.

10. You don’t have to pay the MRP, you can buy for less

MRP is the Maximum Retail Price. As consumers, you have the right to bargain for a price below that. However, a seller can not go beyond the MRP.

11. If you aren’t paid, file a complaint immediately

The Limitation Act states that if you aren’t paid by someone who is contracted to pay you, you need to file a complaint within 3 years. After that time period your suit most likely will be dismissed, so being lazy about this is not an option.

12. 3 months in jail for PDA! (Public Display of Affection)

PDA within its limits is allowed but any obscene activity is punishable by law for upto 3 months. Since the word obscene has not been defined, couples are often harassed by policemen.

13. Head constables have limited prosecution power

No head constable can fine you for any offence which has penalty more than 100.

14. A police officer is always on duty, literally

The 1861 Police Act clearly states that a police officers is always on duty. If he or she witnesses an act of crime or if an incident is brought to their knowledge they can’t say “I am not on duty” even if they aren’t in uniform. Of course, they are entitled to some rest because of the the hard work that they put in to their work.

15. The no sex divorce

As funny as it sounds, if a husband or a wife refuse sex post marriage, it can be deemed as ‘mental cruelty’ and is a viable reason for divorce.