LEGAL NEWS
Delhi High Court Clarifies Treatment of Hostile Child Testimony under POCSO
• The Delhi High Court held that cases under the POCSO Act cannot be dropped solely because a child victim withdraws or alters testimony during trial.
• The court stressed that judges must assess the full factual background, including vulnerability, coercion, and supporting scientific evidence.
• The ruling arose from an appeal by a convict accused of sexually assaulting his minor stepdaughter, which the court rejected.
• Upholding a 20-year sentence, the court relied on strong medical and forensic material corroborating the prosecution’s case.
• The victim was under 12 years of age at the time of the offence and had initially given a detailed complaint that triggered the investigation.
• The bench noted that family pressure, economic dependence, and social stigma often compel child victims and relatives to turn hostile.
• Justice Amit Mahajan observed that fear of losing shelter or financial support can force a child to protect the offender, especially when the accused is a caregiver.
• The court reaffirmed that under POCSO, hostile testimony does not defeat prosecution, particularly when Section 164 CrPC statements and statutory presumptions support guilt.
Bombay High Court on Use of Civilian Honours as Titles
• The Bombay High Court reaffirmed that national civilian awards such as the Bharat Ratna and Padma Awards do not amount to legal titles.
• The court clarified that these honours symbolise recognition by the nation but do not change a person’s official or legal identity.
• The observation was made while hearing a writ petition involving a Padma Shri awardee, where the award was wrongly used as a name prefix.
• The bench directed correction of the case title, stressing the need for precision and propriety in judicial records.
• It held that attaching civilian awards to names in court documents goes against established legal principles.
• The court relied on a 1995 Constitution Bench ruling of the Supreme Court, which clearly stated that national honours cannot be used as titles.
• Emphasising Article 141, the High Court noted that Supreme Court judgments are binding on all courts in India.
• The ruling aligns with Article 18 of the Constitution, which abolishes titles while recognising that awards like the Padma series and Bharat Ratna are marks of honour, not honorific titles.
APPOINTMENTS
PV Sindhu Takes Leadership Role in Global Badminton Governance
• Indian badminton star PV Sindhu has been chosen to head the BWF Athletes’ Commission for the 2026–2029 term.
• As Chairperson, she will also be part of the Badminton World Federation Council, ensuring athlete representation in key decision-making.
• Her election reflects strong trust placed in her leadership by fellow international players.
• Sindhu formally acknowledged the contributions of Greysia Polii, who led the commission from 2021 to 2025.
• Greysia Polii, a former Olympic gold medallist from Indonesia, played a key role in strengthening athlete advocacy during her tenure.
• Sindhu has been connected with the Athletes’ Commission since 2017 and has served as a BWF Integrity Ambassador since 2020.
• She remains India’s most decorated badminton player, with Olympic silver (Rio 2016) and bronze (Tokyo 2020) to her name.
• The new commission leadership also includes Debora Jille (Netherlands) as Deputy Chair, with Abu Hubaida (India) and Chan Ho Yuen Daniel (Hong Kong China) among its members.
B. Sairam Takes Charge as CEO of Coal India Limited
• B. Sairam has been selected by the board to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of Coal India Limited (CIL).
• The decision aims to reinforce leadership at the country’s largest coal-producing public sector enterprise.
• His appointment formally came into effect on 15 December 2025.
• He will continue in the role until his retirement or further directions, whichever is earlier.
• Coal India Limited remains central to India’s energy security, especially in supplying fuel to thermal power plants.
• Sairam is a mining engineering graduate from NIT Raipur and also holds an MBA in Energy Management.
• Before assuming this position, he headed Northern Coalfields Limited as Chairman-cum-Managing Director.
• His earlier experience includes serving as Director (Technical) at Central Coalfields Limited, where he worked on mining and logistics initiatives.
AWARDS
Young Cricket Sensation Honoured with Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar
• President Droupadi Murmu awarded the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar to 14-year-old cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi at a समारोह held in New Delhi.
• The award recognises exceptional children aged 5–18 for achievements in fields such as sports, bravery, social service, environment, culture, and science.
• The President praised Vaibhav for making a strong mark in competitive cricket and achieving rare milestones at a very early age.
• In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Vaibhav smashed 190 runs off just 84 balls, becoming the youngest player to score a List-A century.
• His explosive knock also surpassed AB de Villiers’ record for the fastest 150 in List-A cricket.
• During the same match, he hit 15 sixes, the highest by an Indian batter in a 50-over game.
• Vaibhav earlier scored an unbeaten 108 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, making him the youngest centurion in the tournament’s history.
• At the Under-19 level, he recorded a highest-ever score by an Indian in the Asia Cup and also struck a century against Australia Under-19 in a Youth Test.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Israel Recognises Somaliland as a Sovereign State
• Israel has officially acknowledged Somaliland as an independent country, becoming the first nation to extend such recognition.
• The announcement was made on 26 December 2025 by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, marking a significant diplomatic development.
• Israel expressed its intent to collaborate with Somaliland in key sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, technology, and economic development.
• Netanyahu conveyed formal congratulations to Somaliland’s President, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, following the recognition.
• The decision was described as being in line with the principles of the Abraham Accords, which aim to expand regional cooperation.
• A joint declaration confirming mutual recognition was signed by Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, and the Somaliland President.
• Somaliland’s leadership announced its willingness to become part of the Abraham Accords framework.
• Somaliland, with its capital at Hargeisa, lies in the Horn of Africa along the Gulf of Aden, bordered by Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
STATE NEWS
Parvati–Arga Bird Sanctuary Notified as an Eco-Sensitive Zone
• The Parvati–Arga Bird Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh has been formally designated as an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) by the Union Government.
• The move aims to conserve biodiversity while promoting the area as a sustainable and responsible ecotourism site.
• The announcement was shared by Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Kirti Vardhan Singh.
• Spread over 1,084 hectares, the sanctuary is a major habitat for migratory birds from Central Asia and Tibet.
• Established in 1997, it lies around 40 km from Gonda district in Uttar Pradesh.
• The sanctuary comprises two wetlands—Parvati and Arga—together covering nearly 11 sq km.
• Each winter, the wetlands host over 40,000 migratory water birds, along with resident species like Purple Moorhen and Swamp Hen.
• The area supports rich wildlife, including more than 23 waterfowl species, the Sarus Crane, and mammals such as jackal and nilgai.
Himachal Pradesh’s ‘Green to Gold’ Push Through Industrial Hemp
• Himachal Pradesh has formally begun regulated cultivation of industrial hemp as part of a new economic diversification drive.
• The state government’s ‘Green to Gold’ initiative, launched by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, aims to make Himachal self-reliant by 2027.
• The policy seeks to shift cannabis from illegal trade to a regulated bio-economy, positioning the state as a global player in sustainable industries.
• Under the framework, hemp is promoted for its medicinal value, particularly in pain relief and anti-inflammatory treatments.
• The crop is also being linked to multiple industries such as textiles, paper, packaging, cosmetics, personal care, biofuels, and energy.
• Only low-THC hemp (below 0.3%) is permitted, ensuring the plant is non-intoxicating and unsuitable for narcotic misuse.
• Industrial hemp is climate-friendly, using nearly half the water required by cotton and growing well even in poor soil conditions.
• Research institutions in Palampur and Nauni are supporting the transition, with a long-term vision to develop Himachal Pradesh as a hub for Hempcrete, a carbon-negative building material.
