Judicial standards and accountability bill

1.        

·         It allows for anyone to complain against a judge

·         This effectively allows impeachment procedure to be initiated even by one person’s complaint unlike the current rule of atleast 100 MPs of lok sabha or 50 MPs of rajya sabha

·         The complaint needs to be submitted to a judicial oversight committee

·         Judicial oversight committee comprises of

o   2 sitting judges

o   A retired judge

o   An eminent person

o   Attorney general

·         But work of judicial oversight committee is effectively like a post office . hence it is a waste of time

·         Also attorney general may have to plead in front of a judge against whom there is a complaint. This creates a conflict of interest

·         Further the complaint is forwarded to a scrutiny panel to investigate the complaint and determine the future course of action

·         Scrutiny panel will comprise of 3 members of which 2 have to be from same court as that of accused judge

o   It is difficult for the members in scrutiny panel to pass an impartial judgement on their own colleague

·         The future course of action can either be

o   Minor punishment

o   Ask for voluntary resignation

o   Impeachment

·         Minor punishments will dent the credibility of judiciary

·         Another drawback is that composition and tenure of investigation committee is not defined in bill

·         The bill list out 18 judicial standards

o   This will impede the freedom and independence of judiciary

·         The entire process is kept out of scope of RTI. This will encourage a secret and regressive system

WAY AHEAD

·         Strike balance between accountability and independence of judiciary

·         Start with making the selection process transparent

Disruption of railway services is unlawful says Supreme court

• In context of frequent railway blockades and the mirchipur dalit killings in haryana,Supreme court said the following
o Destruction of public property and disruption of railways is unacceptable
o Political aprties behind such activities must be de-recognised and its leaders must be put behind bars
• This will help curtail political parties open support to such activities
• Such activities effect our international image
• This is positive move from supreme court
• Primary responsibility of state is to ensure protection of fundamental rights of citizens
• Blockades and disruptions violate art 19(1)(g).
• Hence state should be held responsible for losses occuring due to disruptions
WAY AHEAD
• Agitations are pre-planned and coordinated
• Government intellgence agencies can pre-empt and prevent such agitations
• Genuine demands must be addressed in a timely manner by state
• Efforts should be made towards having a constructive debate rather than pushing through demands with muscle and money power
• Railway minister has even offered to provide incentive to states that prevent railway blockades
IS judicial activism a necessity?
• If a government fails to perform its duty, court is forced to step in
• In case of UP jat agitation, court passed an order asking state to clear rail blockade by jats
• Within a day, the tracks were cleared
• This clearly shows states deliberately promote such agitations
• Hence judicial intervention is a necessity else situation may go out of control and elad to civil riots.

Unintended boosters

·        Economic survey Suggests that financial inclusion has lead to more money in economy and hence increasing inflation

·         However there are also some supply side factors

·         Percapita income has increased by 7% . hence the better off people are not impacted by inflation. It is the bottom quintile which is facing brunt of inflation(they 67% of household income on food)

Family medicine and medical education reform

·         What is family medicine?

o   Family medicine (FM) is a medical specialty devoted to comprehensive health care for people of all ages. It is a division of primary care that provides continuing and comprehensive health care for the individual and family across all ages

MCI

·         Last april, its board was replaced on grounds of corruption with a government nominated board of governors

·         They have been given the task of bringing about medical education reform

WHY REFORM?

·         To overcome inadequacies and inequities in our healthcare system

·         To achieve goal of quality and universal healthcare

CURRENT STATUS OF MEDICAL EDUCATION

·         Shortage of medical manpower

·         Poor quality of medical education

·         Shortage of faculty

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS?

·         We need a sound and competent basic  health care system to cater to needs of disadvataged communities

·         Focus should be on disease prevention and promotion of ehalth in family and community

·         More focus on primary and secondary levels of healthcare

WAY AHEAD

·         Medical under grads need to be trained in family medicine

·         They should be given exposure to primarya nd secondary healthcare during their training

·         Medical colleges should set up a separate dept of family medicine

OBSTACLES

·         Health care is not of much importance in political scenario

·         Family medicine is not appealing to private sector

BIology-Kidney

Key points:

·         World kidney day: 2^nd thursday of march

·         These for 2011: protect your kidneys and save your heart

Kidney Functions

·         Controls fluid electrolyte balance in body

o   Excretes excess of ammnia, nitrate and other byproducts through urine

·         Controls

o   Blood pressure

o   Body salts

o   Calcium

o   Vitamin D

KIDNEY PROBLEMS

·         Seen mostly in younger and older people

·         Kidney stone

·         Hypertension

o   Symptoms: swelling in face, feet, headache

·         Diabetes

·         Stress

·         Headache

Treatment:

·         Endoscopy

·         Laproscopy

·         IV/oral anti biotics

·         Immune suppresants

·         Dialysis

·         Renal transplant

Preacautions to avoid Kidney damage

·         Eat veggie

·         Exercise atleast 30 min day

·         No smoking

·         Drink little alchohol

download link:http://www.filefreak.com/files/787594_bktz6/Kidneys%20functions%20and%20diseases.mp3

India-Pakistan Home secretary talks

download link:http://www.newsonair.com/writereaddata/broadcast/Daily-Spotlight-Bulletins-1003.mp3