Current Affairs - Bills and Acts

The central government has banned 156 cocktail drugs, many of which are commonly available at home. These banned drugs are used for various purposes, including hair growth, skin care, pain relief, and treating allergies. The ban affects fixed-dose combinations (FDCs), where multiple drugs are combined into a single pill. This list includes drugs that were already discontinued or had limited use. The ban was recommended by the expert committee appointed by the Centre after an examination by the apex panel of the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB). This decision was based on the finding that there is no therapeutic justification for these FDCs. The pharmaceutical industry is currently assessing the financial impact of this ban.

The Assam government will propose a bill for compulsory government registration of Muslim marriages and divorces, aiming to end underage marriages and protect tribal areas and cultural sites. The bill, to be tabled in the Autumn Session, seeks to end the Kazi's authority to register Muslim marriages and divorces and ensure government oversight of such registrations. It also includes provisions to protect religious, cultural, and historical structures, as well as expand the 'Orunodoi' poverty alleviation scheme, aiming to cover an additional 12.6 lakh households.

The Right to Education (RTE) Act was enacted in 2009 by the Indian Parliament to operationalize the 86th Constitutional Amendment, which introduced Article 21 A. This article ensures free and compulsory education for children aged 6-14 years. The RTE Act, which became effective on April 1, 2010, mandates that no fees be charged for education and sets out the duties of state governments and local authorities. It also establishes guidelines for teacher-student ratios and prohibits physical punishment and mental harassment in schools.

The Boilers Bill, of 2024, introduced in Rajya Sabha, aims to replace the Boilers Act of 1923. The new bill seeks to modernize boiler regulations and enhance safety standards. It decriminalizes certain offences, simplifies provisions to facilitate ease of doing business, and mandates the employment of qualified personnel for boiler repairs to ensure worker safety.

The Madras High Court declared Section 77-A of the Registration Act, 1908 unconstitutional, citing concerns about the excessive quasi-judicial power it granted to District Registrars. Introduced through a 2022 State amendment, Section 77-A allowed District Registrars to cancel property documents registered through fraud or forged revenue records. The court found this provision problematic due to the lack of judicial expertise among Registrars and the potential for bias, which could lead to significant hardship and damage to property owners.