This Article is written by Nidhi Singh, a 3rd year student of Lloyd Law College, Greater Noida.
1.CO-VID-19 Quarantine related Laws: –
Quarantine is a state of isolation in which people who are more likely to get an infection are placed for a fixed time, to reduce further spread of such disease.
1.1 Existing Legal Framework: In our country, the criminal justice system talks about offenses relating to public health, under Chapter XIV of /Indian Penal Code, 1860. Sections 269 and 270 of IPC deals with punishment for the offense of negligent and malignant acts, resulting in the spread of infection of a deadly disease. The former provision prescribes punishment for up to six months or fine or both. In the case of the latter offense, the prescribed punishment is up to 2 years or fine or both. Additionally, Section 271 is an express provision about the prescription of punishment for disobedience to quarantine rule. The sentence can be of the term up to six months or with fine or with both.
1.2 Contemporary Developments: During the ongoing pandemic, we have seen an unfortunate rise in violence against health workers. Indian Government came up with an amendment in Epidemic Disease Act, 1897. This temporary ordinance (The Epidemic Disease (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020) is intended to curb violence against health care workers. It is working to combat the epidemic by adding a protection clause. It also expands the contours of executive discretion, to prevent the spread of such diseases.
2.Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019
Passed by the parliament on 11th day of December 2019. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, is the amended version of the Citizenship Act of 1955. It has provided the provision to give citizenship to migrants or refugees who came to India before December 31, 2014. Due to religious prosecution and who belongs to the religious minority of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parse, and Christianity from the theocratic countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Such refugees will be able to attain the citizenship within six years. The residence requirement for naturalization of these migrants has also been reduced from eleven years to five years through this Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.
3.Prohibition on E-cigarettes
The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019, banned the import, export, distribution, manufacturing, and all aspects of e-cigarettes. Since these products came into notice of the government as they cause the same ill effects as tobacco cause. Due to these cigarettes, multiple flavors and brands people get attracted to these products.
4.Special protection group Amendment Bill, 2019
This new Law of SPG would cease the old Law, which was offered to Sonia Gandhi and her family since 1991. According to this new SPG bill, Prime Minister and his family get security at their official residential home. The protection is granted to former prime minister and his family also for the maximum term of five years from date he ceases to hold the PM’s office.
5.The Arms Amendment Bill, 2019
This Law reduces the number of firearms from three to one at a time. It also reduces the term period of licensing from five to three years. It also put strict punishment for offenders from earlier, now they can be jailed for a term of seven years and more with fine.
6. Transgenders identity
This law allows transgender people to change their identity from the earlier one assigned by the hospital at the time of their birth. The new legislation aims to reduce discrimination against the when it comes to their health care services and other basic needs.However, transgender people protest against this Law because it does not allow them to declare their own identity recognized by authorities to be identified.
7. The N.C.T of Delhi (Recognition of property Rights in unauthorized colonies) Bill, 2019
This Law allows the residents of unauthorized colonies in Delhi to register themselves and get ownership rights with valid documents like power attorney and sale agreement. It also allows the development authority of Delhi to regularize a colony.
8 .Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019
This Law makes ship owners responsible for the use of hazardous material used in ships and instructs to reuse them. The authority also checks on recycling and surveys. It also levied a fine of 5-10 lakhs in case of oil splitting anywhere.
[i] Read here top 5 Recent Judgments in India– https://lawlex.org/lex-pedia/top-5-recent-judgments-which-changed-indian-laws/19314