ISSN (Print) - 0012-9976 | ISSN (Online) - 2349-8846

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COVID and LegislationSubscribe to COVID and Legislation

COVID-19-led Migrant Crisis

The genesis and evolution of the COVID-19-led migrant crisis in India, along with the institutional responses, is discussed. The focus is on the shortcomings of the response, especially taking into consideration the curtailment of human mobility, which pushed migrants into enormous physical, psychological, and economic vulnerability, and the short-, medium-, and long-term measures provided by the government in order to alleviate them. Alternate policy measures to ensure migrant welfare in the immediate future are suggested.

The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 Needs An Urgent Overhaul

Vol. 55, Issue No. 45, 07 Nov, 2020
The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 is a colonial era legislation that is still used as the primary law to control a mass epidemic. The act, most recently, has been invoked by a number of Indian states to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. This article aims to understand the existing scheme under the act, its limitations, judicial scrutiny and the need for a new holistic law from a public health perspective.

Appointment of Judges to the Higher Judiciary during the Pandemic—II

The impact of the appointment process for high court and Supreme Court judges following the recommendations of the collegium is examined. The functioning of the collegium itself was not significantly affected by the pandemic. However, how many of its recommendations have been implemented by the union government, and how quickly, point to the need for the judiciary and the government to work together to ensure optimal judicial functioning.

 

Newly Formed Empowered ‘Technology Group’ and COVID-19

The role of the empowered “Technology Group” with respect to building and promoting health technologies is discussed and a possible road map is charted out.

 

Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and Agriculture

In this short note, we critically examine two proposals specific to agriculture announced as part of Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan and the subsequent ordinances. We argue that while the investment in infrastructure is a welcome step, market reforms proposed are inadequate to improve the prospects of smallholder farmers. An enabling ecosystem that enhances the market power of farmers must be created for smallholders to take advantage of the reform measures.

Wet Markets and Food Laws in India: What is Needed to Ensure Safety and Hygiene?

Vol. 55, Issue No. 31, 01 Aug, 2020
There is a growing worldwide clarion call for a ban on wet markets and meat consumption, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Do wet markets in India pose a risk to food safety? Are our food laws efficient and effectively implemented? The article discusses various laws and regulations, such as Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001 and various local municipal laws that are meant to ensure safety and hygiene of our food and markets.

COVID-19 and Dwindling Indian Federalism

One of the many effects of COVID-19 pandemic disaster is also visible on legislative, executive and financial federalism in India. The constitutional mandate for functioning of centre on behalf of states has been missed and recourse to disaster has been taken to undertake unified but unconsented measures.

India’s Free Food Politics

Is the government’s food relief package abetting destitution rather than alleviating it?

Lawless Lawmaking in a COVID-19 World

India’s management of the COVID-19 global pandemic has been marked by excessive centralisation, lawless lawmaking and non-consultative decision-making processes at the union government level. This has created an atmosphere of confusion in the management of the disease, leading to India becoming one of the global hotspots and cases fast spiralling out of the control of local authorities.

Parliaments in the Time of the Pandemic

Democratic accountability demands that the executive decisions and actions during the pandemic need to be subjected to legislative scrutiny. However, this process is absent as the Parliament is adjourned and even the parliamentary committees are not functioning. Taking a cue from the parliaments worldwide that are functional during the pandemic, modalities to ensure the functioning of parliamentary institutions need to be devised.

Migration Commission

The Migration Commission must listen to the workers’ voices and their concerns.

Examining the Covid-19 Relief Package for MSMEs

The Covid-19 relief package for micro, small and medium enterprises and the changes to the defining criteria for MSMEs are examined. While the changes in the MSME definition open the sector to larger enterprises, the composite criteria introduce fresh ambiguities to the defining of MSMEs. Liquidity infusion measures at this juncture without adequate measures to revive demand will not help MSMEs tide over the Covid-19 lockdown-induced crisis.

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