LEGAL NEWS

Supreme Court of India on Limited Electoral Impact of NOTA

• The Supreme Court observed that the NOTA (None of the Above) option has had minimal influence on improving the quality of candidates in elections.

• It also noted that voter turnout among educated and affluent citizens remains lower than participation from economically weaker sections, despite the availability of NOTA.

• NOTA enables voters to reject all contesting candidates while maintaining ballot secrecy.

• The option was introduced in 2013 following the landmark judgment in People’s Union for Civil Liberties v Union of India.

• Earlier, under Rule 49-O of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, voters had to disclose their refusal to vote to the Presiding Officer, compromising secrecy.

• Although NOTA votes are counted, they are treated as invalid under the First-Past-The-Post system, meaning the candidate with the next-highest votes still wins.

• NOTA is applicable in Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections but was barred in Rajya Sabha polls by the Supreme Court in 2018 to maintain party discipline.

• While it offers a formal mechanism for voter dissent and prevents boycott of elections, its lack of legal consequences limits its effectiveness in influencing party candidate selection.

Allahabad High Court on “Bulldozer Justice”

• The Allahabad High Court ruled that punitive demolitions cannot bypass due process and must comply with constitutional safeguards under Articles 14 and 21.

• “Bulldozer justice” refers to the extra-legal demolition of property soon after criminal allegations, without following legal procedures.

• As per law, demolition is permitted only for illegal constructions after prior notice, fair hearing, and a reasoned administrative order.

• Authorities often defend such actions as routine anti-encroachment drives rather than punitive measures.

• The practice undermines fair trial rights under Article 21 and violates the doctrine of separation of powers by allowing the executive to assume a quasi-judicial role.

• It may also result in collective punishment, harming co-owners who are not accused of any offence.

• Rising cases are linked to judicial delays, governance signalling through ‘instant justice’, and discretionary loopholes in municipal laws.

• The Supreme Court of India has prohibited punitive demolitions, citing the right to shelter in the Olga Tellis v Bombay Municipal Corporation judgment and mandating procedural safeguards like notice, hearings, and accountability for officials.

IMPORTANT DAYS

World NGO Day 2026

• World NGO Day is observed every year on 27 February to acknowledge the contribution of non-profit organisations worldwide.

• The 2026 theme — “Restoring Dignity Through Inclusion” highlights the importance of equitable participation in development.

• The idea of marking this day was introduced in 2010 by the Baltic Sea NGO Forum.

• In 2014, the date received global acceptance from institutions including the United Nations and European Union.

• The first worldwide celebration was organised in Helsinki by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland in 2014.

• The occasion is now commemorated in over 89 nations across six continents.

• India is home to more than three million NGOs, actively supporting social and developmental initiatives.

• NGOs function independently and play a crucial role in community welfare, international development, and philanthropic activities.

APPOINTMENT

Arvind KC Appointed Chief People Officer at OpenAI

• Indian-origin executive Arvind KC has been appointed as Chief People Officer at OpenAI.

• He succeeds Julia Villagra, who has moved into an advisory position within the organisation.

• His appointment comes amid the rising presence of Indian-origin professionals in leadership roles across global AI firms.

• In his new role, he will focus on strengthening recruitment, onboarding, employee growth, and internal performance systems.

• Before this, he served as Chief People and Systems Officer at Roblox.

• He has also held leadership roles at Google, Palantir Technologies, and Meta Platforms.

• His experience spans talent strategy, organisational design, and people operations in major tech firms.

• He holds a degree in chemical engineering from the University Institute of Chemical Technology.

DEFENCE

President Witnesses ‘Vayu Shakti’ Exercise in Rajasthan

• Droupadi Murmu undertook a two-day visit to Jaisalmer.

• During the visit, she observed the Indian Air Force’s ‘Vayu Shakti’ exercise.

• Prior to the demonstration, she flew in the Light Combat Helicopter ‘Prachand’.

• The sortie was conducted in a two-helicopter formation.

• Amarpreet Singh piloted the second helicopter in the formation.

• ‘Prachand’ is India’s first indigenously designed and developed combat helicopter.

• The helicopter has been manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and is suited for both desert and high-altitude operations.

• The ‘Vayu Shakti’ exercise was held at the Pokhran Field Firing Range near the India–Pakistan border.