Supreme Court Condemns Illegal Felling of Trees in Corbett Tiger Reserve
– Supreme Court criticizes the illegal felling of over 6,000 trees in Jim Corbett National Park.
– Describes the case as a “classic” example of the nexus between politicians andofficials for short-term commercial gain.
Dire State of Affairs and Environmental Devastation
– Bench headed by Justice B.R. Gavai condemns human greed for devastating the Corbett Tiger Reserve.
– Observes the sorry state of affairs where politicians and officials bypass forest and wildlife conservation laws.
Call for Specialized Committee and CBI Probe
– Directs Ministry of Environment to form a committee to study whether tiger safaris should be allowed in buffer areas.
– Approves Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe and demands a report within three months.
Restoration and Responsibility
– Holds Uttarakhand accountable for restoring the forest.
– Emphasizes the importance of tigers for the ecosystem and the need to protect them.
– Stresses that events like illegal tree felling cannot be overlooked and require immediate action.
About Jim Corbett National Park
• Located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand, the Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) is renowned for its rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes.
• Established in 1936 as Hailey National Park and later renamed after Jim Corbett, a conservationist and key figure in its establishment, CTR is the oldest national park in India.
• As part of Project Tiger launched in 1973, it serves as a vital habitat for the endangered Bengal tiger. The reserve encompasses both the core Corbett National Park and the buffer area,which includes reserve forests and the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Situated in the Shivalik and Outer Himalaya geological provinces, CTR boasts a mountainous terrain and is traversed by major rivers like Ramganga, Sonanadi, Mandal, Palain, and Kosi.
• With dense moist deciduous forests, CTR is home to a diverse array of flora, including over 600 species of plants such as Sal, Khair, and Sissoo trees.
• The reserve also supports a rich variety of fauna, with a significant tiger population of around 230 individuals, boasting the world’s highest tiger density at 14 tigers per hundred square kilometers.
• Additionally, Corbett is inhabited by leopards, jungle cats, barking deer, spotted deer, sambar deer, and sloth bears, among other species.
• Uttarakhand is home to several other notable protected areas, including
• Nanda Devi National Park,
• Valley of Flowers National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with Nanda Devi)
• Rajaji National Park,
• Gangotri National Park, and
• Govind National Park.
Unapproved Weight Loss Drugs in India: A Cause for Concern
Introduction: The Semaglutide Controversy
– Media reports highlight the widespread use of unapproved weight loss drugs containing Semaglutide in India.
– Originally intended for treating Type 2 diabetes, Semaglutide is now being administered for weight loss, despite lacking approval for sale in India
Unapproved Drugs and Media Silence
– Press releases from global pharmaceutical companies warning against the use of
these drugs in India receive little attention in the media.
– Media neglects to report on the significant side effects associated with these
unapproved weight loss drugs.
Historical Precedents: Lessons from the Past
– Similarities are drawn between the current situation and past controversies involving weight loss drugs like Rimonabant and Fen–Phen in the United States.
– Previous cases resulted in substantial damages paid out by pharmaceutical companies in mass tort litigation.
Regulatory Framework and Exceptions
– Drugs in India are typically approved for sale after conducting clinical trials and obtaining regulatory approval.
– Exceptions exist for importing unapproved drugs for personal or hospital use, but these are narrow and subject to strict regulations
Unanswered Questions for Doctors
– Doctors face ethical dilemmas regarding the prescription of unapproved drugs.
– Concerns arise about the lack of clinical trials in India and potential adverse effects, especially when patients are already on other medications.
– Questions arise about doctors’ knowledge of the risks associated with unapproved drugs and their duty to ensure patient safety.
Unanswered Questions for Doctors
– Doctors face ethical dilemmas regarding the prescription of unapproved drugs.
– Concerns arise about the lack of clinical trials in India and potential adverse effects, especially when patients are already on other medications.
– Questions arise about doctors’ knowledge of the risks associated with unapproved drugs and their duty to ensure patient safety.
Supreme Court Ruling on Legislative Immunity
Background and Case Overview
– A seven-judge Bench ruled that MPs and MLAs cannot claim immunity from prosecution for accepting bribes to influence their votes or speeches in the House.
– The case involved Sita Soren, accused of accepting a bribe to cast her vote in the 2012 Rajya Sabha elections.
Overruling the 1998 Narasimha Rao Ruling
The court overruled the 1998 ruling which granted legislative immunity in bribery cases, emphasizing the need to preserve the integrity of parliamentary debate.
Supreme Court Ruling on Legislative Immunity
Background and Case Overview
– A seven-judge Bench ruled that MPs and MLAs cannot claim immunity from prosecution for accepting bribes to influence their votes or speeches in the House.
– The case involved Sita Soren, accused of accepting a bribe to cast her vote in the 2012 Rajya Sabha elections.
Overruling the 1998 Narasimha Rao Ruling
The court overruled the 1998 ruling which granted legislative immunity in bribery cases, emphasizing the need to preserve the integrity of parliamentary debate.
Key Points of the Ruling
– Legislative privileges are meant to facilitate debate and deliberation but do not shield members engaging in bribery.
– Bribery is a crime independent of the voting process, and acceptance of a bribe constitutes an offense.
– The court clarified that jurisdiction to prosecute bribery cases does not infringe upon Parliament’s authority to punish members for contempt
Application to Other Cases
The ruling’s principles extend to Rajya Sabha elections and appointments of the
President and Vice-President, overturning previous interpretations.
Conclusion
The ruling sets a precedent by clarifying the limits of legislative immunity and reinforces
the accountability of legislators in upholding ethical standards.