Winter parliamentary session | SabrangIndia News Related to Human Rights Thu, 14 Dec 2023 13:24:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://sabrangindia.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Favicon_0.png Winter parliamentary session | SabrangIndia 32 32 Disparities in Lok Adalat case disposal rates across India emerge over three years https://sabrangindia.in/disparities-in-lok-adalat-case-disposal-rates-across-india-emerge-over-three-years/ Thu, 14 Dec 2023 13:16:58 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=31793 Uttar Pradesh leads, while other lagging regions signal challenges, prompting calls for equitable justice access nationwide

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On December 7, during the ongoing winter parliamentary session, S. Selvaganapathy, raised questions regarding Lok Adalats in the Rajya Sabha. Through his question, Selvaganapathy wanted to know the details of the number of Lok Adalats organised and the number cases settled over the past three years. Selvaganapathy is an Indian politician and member of the parliament from the Bhartiya Janta Party.

In the response from the ministry of law and justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, the minister apprised the Rajya Sabha of the details of cases disposed in National Lok Adalats, State Lok Adalats and Permanent Lok Adalats from 2020-21 till 2023-24, up to September, 2023.

When we closely look at the cases disposed in National Lok Adalats, we see that in 2020, the highest number of cases disposed of was 11,71,022 in Uttar Pradesh. While the lowest was 0 cases in Ladakh. In 2021, the highest number of cases disposed of was 55,51,793 again in Uttar Pradesh. While the lowest was 7 cases in Lakshadweep.  In 2022, the highest number of cases disposed of was 1, 86,98,973 in Uttar Pradesh for the third consecutive time. While the lowest was 129 cases in Lakshadweep.

In 2023, until September, the highest number of cases disposed of was 2, 29,44164 in Uttar Pradesh. While the lowest number of cases has been 41 cases in Lakshadweep. Hence, we can see that Uttar Pradesh has had the maximum number of cases disposed of throughout from 2020 till 2023. Whereas the lowest cases disposed of has consecutively been Lakshadweep.

A close look at the table (below) shows that states and union territories including Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Daman and Diu, Delhi, Gujrat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tripura, and Uttar Pradesh, show constant growth of disposals over the years. Available figures are until September, hence a proportionate calculation establishes that 15 out of 37 states have an arc of increasing number of cases disposed during the last 3 years and the current year.  Whereas there are 10 states out of 37 that show fluctuations and eventually a decrease in the number of cases disposed of. The states are Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Maharashtra, Manipur, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. The remaining 12 states do not show fluctuations and are more or less constant throughout.

Lok Adalats legally come under National Legal Services Authority and the respective State Legal Services Authority. They are is statutory organisations under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987. Lok Adalats have evolved as a dispute resolution mechanism outside courts, at a pre-litigation stage, Cases pending before a panchayat or at a pre-litigation stage in a court of law are attempted to be settled. The award (decision) by Lok Adalats is deemed to be final as in a civil court case, binding on all parties. If however parties are dissatisfied with the award of any Lok Adalat (because there is no provision for appeal) they are still free to approach an appropriate court.

Persons who adjudicate here are however picked by government, union or state and this often has a bearing on the outcome.

State Lok Adalats

When we look at the cases disposed of in the State Lok Adalats, we see that in 2020-21, the highest number of cases disposed of were 1,95,359 with 300 benches constituted that year in Delhi. Whereas the lowest number of cases disposed of were 0 in Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Punjab and Ladakh.

In 2021-22, the highest number of cases disposed of were 1,47,103 with 250 benches constituted that year in Delhi. Whereas the lowest number of cases disposed of were 0 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, Manipur, and Nagaland. In 2022-23, the highest number of cases disposed of were 2,59,125 with 30 benches constituted that year in Uttar Pradesh. Whereas the lowest number of cases disposed of were 0 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Assam, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Meghalaya, and Nagaland. In 2023-24, up to September 2023, the highest number of cases disposed of were 2,36,496 with 15 benches constituted that year in Uttar Pradesh. Whereas the lowest number of cases disposed of were 0 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Karnataka, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, West Bengal and Ladakh. It is important to note that states and union territories including Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, and Nagaland have had hardly any, or no benches constituted, and cases disposed of since 2020-21.

A close look at the cases disposed of in the Permanent Lok Adalats, we see that in 2020-21, the highest number of cases settled during the year were 14,765 with 532 sittings constituted during that year in Delhi. Whereas the lowest number of cases disposed of were 0 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Puducherry, Sikkim, West Bengal and Ladakh.

In 2021-22, the highest number of cases settled were 32,514 with 5144 sittings constituted during that year in Jharkhand. Whereas the lowest number of cases disposed of were 0 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Puducherry, Sikkim, West Bengal and Ladakh. In 2022-23, the highest number of cases settled were 72,440 with 3,416 sittings constituted during that year in Haryana.

Whereas the lowest number of cases disposed of were 0 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Puducherry, Sikkim, West Bengal and Ladakh.

In 2023-24, upto September 2023, the highest number of cases settled were 20,483 with 2661 sittings constituted during that year in Jharkhand. Whereas the lowest number of cases disposed of were 0 in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Puducherry, Sikkim, West Bengal and Ladakh. When we look at the grand total of all the states combined the cases settled during the year has increased every year. Though it should be pointed out that 14 out 37 states and union territories have had no sittings during the year and any cases settled since 2020-21.

The data presented regarding the disposal of cases in National Lok Adalats, State Lok Adalats, and Permanent Lok Adalats from 2020-21 to 2023-24 (up to September) offers a comprehensive view of the trend in case settlements across different regions of India.

Primarily, Uttar Pradesh consistently leads in the disposal of cases in National Lok Adalats, reflecting a substantial volume of resolved cases over these years. Conversely, certain regions, notably Lakshadweep and several others, demonstrate persistently low case disposal rates, indicating potential challenges or limitations in the efficacy of the Lok Adalat system within these areas. Analysing State Lok Adalats, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh exhibit prominent numbers in different years, showcasing significant variations in case disposal rates across states. Moreover, the concerning absence of benches constituted and minimal to no cases disposed of in some regions like Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman & Diu, Lakshadweep, and Nagaland raises questions about the infrastructure or outreach of Lok Adalats in these areas. Permanent Lok Adalats reflect a similar trend, highlighting disparities in case settlements across states. The consistent absence of sittings and settlements in specific regions throughout these years raises concerns regarding access to justice and the effectiveness of the Lok Adalat system in these areas. Overall, while there is an evident increase in the total cases settled each year, it is crucial to address the disparities among states and union territories. The presence of regions consistently lagging in case disposals necessitates a deeper examination of the factors influencing this disparity, be it infrastructural, logistical, or systemic constraints. Enhancing the reach and efficacy of Lok Adalats in these areas becomes imperative to ensure equitable access to justice across the nation.

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Parliamentary inquiry unveils 165 data breaches from 2018-23 as reported by CERT-In https://sabrangindia.in/parliamentary-inquiry-unveils-165-data-breaches-from-2018-23-as-reported-by-cert-in/ Tue, 12 Dec 2023 12:28:06 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=31771 Alleged Aadhaar and CoWIN breaches elevate citizen data protection imperatives

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On December 8, during the ongoing winter parliamentary session, Saket Gokhale raised questions regarding the total number of data breaches of Indians that have been brought to the notice of the ministry since 2018 in the Rajya Sabha. Through his question he inquired about the specific instances of data breaches of Indians that are currently being investigated by the Ministry. Saket Gokhale is a politician and spokesperson of the Trinamool Congress. He was elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha from West Bengal. These questions were presented to Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who is the current minister of state for skill development and entrepreneurship and information technology of India. 

In its response, it was said that the government is committed to ensuring an open, safe, trusted and accountable internet for its users and has taken measures to safeguard citizen data from cyber threats. It is astonishing to note that there have been 165 data breaches from 2018-23 as reported by Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and no investigations have taken place. They have mentioned that there has been no breach of data in the case of Aadhaar card information from the Central Identities Data Repository (CIDR) maintained by the Unique Identification Authority of India. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has implemented stringent safety measures for Co-IN App, including OTP authentication for accessing vaccination details, masking sensitive personal information, encrypting the Co-WIN database, and implementing two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized access, ensuring citizen data protection.

The complete answer can be read here:

 

Even though the government alleges no breach of Aadhaar card information has occurred, the article published by Livemint states an Aadhar data breach that took place in October 2023.  

The article talks about a report by Resecurity, a US-based cybersecurity firm that claims that personal identifiable information of about 815 million which is 81.5 crore Indians has been leaked on the dark web. Data including names, phone numbers, addresses, Aadhaar, passport information are for sale online. On 9 October, 2023, a threat actor going by the name ‘pwn0001’ posted a thread on Breach Forums brokering access to 815 million “Indian Citizen Aadhaar & Passport” records. The company also added that its HUNTER unit investigators who established contact with the threat actor, learned that they were willing to sell entire Aadhaar and Indian passport database for $80,000.

There is information regarding an alleged data leak on the CoWIN platform as can be accessed here. In this report, it is mentioned that sensitive personal data such as full name, Aadhar number, mobile number and vaccination status of innumerable citizens stored on the CoWIN platform was leaked through a Telegram bot on June 12, 2023. 

The recent parliamentary inquiry by Saket Gokhale regarding data breaches raised concerns about the government’s handling of citizen data security. Despite assurances of safeguarding data and no reported breaches in Aadhaar information, discrepancies arise from recent reports. Livemint has highlighted a potential Aadhaar data breach involving sensitive personal information of millions for sale on the dark web. Additionally, allegations of a CoWIN platform leak in June 2023, compromising citizens’ Aadhaar numbers and vaccination status, add to the growing concerns about data security measures. These incidents underscore the urgent need for thorough investigations, enhanced cybersecurity protocols, and transparent accountability to ensure the protection of citizens’ sensitive data.

 

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Union data on faculty position in Central University: 14.3% SC, 7% ST, 23.4% OBC https://sabrangindia.in/union-data-on-faculty-position-in-central-university-14-3-sc-7-st-23-4-obc/ Tue, 12 Dec 2023 09:05:21 +0000 https://sabrangindia.in/?p=31766 Mission Recruitment unable to achieve diverse representation of marginalised groups, need for equitable faculty distribution in Indian Central Universities still remains; no data on professor posts held by marginalised communities provided by union

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On December 11, in the Lok Sabha of the ongoing winter parliamentary session, Manickam Tagore (INC) raised questions regarding the representation of Other Backward Class (OBCs), Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in the posts of professors of central universities. Through his question, Tagore inquired whether the OBC, SC, ST communities are receiving adequate representation in the faculty position in central universities.

Tagore had also asked for the union minister’s confirmation to the fact that the people from the OBC, SC and ST community hold a mere 4.5 percent, 7 percent and 2 percent professor’s post respectively while the upper castes acquire 86 per cent of the total posts.

These questions were presented to Dr. Subhas Sarkar, who is currently serving as the Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Education. In the response, the union minister apprised the Lok Sabha through the special recruitment driver under Mission recruitment, more than 6080 faculty positions, including professor’s posts, have been filled. Out of these positions, 871 positions have been filled by Scheduled Castes, showing a representation of 14.3 percent. The minister further provided that a total of 426 positions are occupied by the Scheduled Tribes, accounting for a mere representation of 7 percent. As per the data, 1424 faculty positions were held by people belonging in the OBC community, resulting in 23.4 percent representation in the faculty positions in Central Universities. It is crucial to note that the aforementioned data is concerning the total faculty positions available in Central universities and not the post of professor.

The union minister also provided that as of now, there is not proposal regarding reservation in promotions for OBCs.

The data providing the representation percentage of these marginalised communities in faculty positions and the post of professors indicate a need for further efforts to ensure more equitable representation across these groups within central universities’ faculty positions.

The complete answer can be accessed here:

 

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