25th MARCH 2025 ENGLISH TNPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS PDF TNPSC SHOUTERS
Supreme Court orders formation of national committee to prevent student suicide
- After two students of IIT Delhi committed suicide, their parents alleged that their children were committing suicide due to caste discrimination and pressure imposed on them at the said educational institution and that the police had failed to register a case despite several complaints being lodged with them.
- The petition filed in the Supreme Court seeking an inquiry into the matter was taken up for hearing today (March 24) before a bench of Justices J. P. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan.
- It is mandatory for the educational institutions concerned to ensure that a First Information Report (FIR) is registered by the appropriate authorities in case of any untoward incident, including suicide, within the premises of the educational institution.
- The Supreme Court has pointed out that educational institutions are not just places where education is imparted; they are also responsible for the welfare and holistic development of the students.
- The Supreme Court has also said that every educational institution should act responsibly and ensure that students studying there feel that there is no discrimination against them and that they can study here without fear and that they are safe.
- Subsequently, a 9-member national executive committee headed by former Justice S. Ravindra Bhatt has been constituted on the orders of the Supreme Court.
- The Supreme Court has ordered this executive committee to conduct a proper inquiry into the issue of student suicide and submit an interim report within the next four months. It has also been directed to submit a detailed inquiry report within 8 months, and the Central Government has been directed to allocate Rs. 20 lakhs for this committee.
- The Union Minister for Commerce and Industries, Shri Piyush Goyal, introduced the Boilers Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha today. It repeals the Boilers Act, 1923 (5 of 1923). The Bill was earlier passed in the Rajya Sabha on 4 December 2024 and will be sent for the assent of the President after it is passed in the Lok Sabha.
- The newly enacted law has been designed to meet the current needs of the industry, including boiler operators in the country. It is in line with the needs of the present times.
- The Bill will benefit boiler users, including those in the MSME sector. In order to ensure the safety of boiler operators, criminal penalties for four major offences that can cause loss of life and property will continue as they were earlier.
- For other offences, provision has been made for imposing financial penalties. Further, for all non-criminal offences, the ‘penalty’ has been changed to a fine imposed by an administrative body instead of the courts as was the case earlier.
- This will enhance safety as specific provisions have been made in the Bill to ensure the safety of persons working inside the boiler and to ensure that boiler repairs are carried out by qualified and competent persons.
