Amendment

In the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University Grants Commission (UGC) the apex body of Higher Education in India, has allowed the candidates to apply for Assistant Professor jobs without having a PhD till July 2023. UGC removed the mandatory requirement that came into effect in 2018 through an amendment. However, candidates having a postgraduate degree must have cleared the National Eligibility Test to apply for the post. 

The Odisha government is likely to conduct direct elections for the post of Mayor of Municipal Corporations and Chairperson of Municipalities as it issued a referendum to the public, on August 13. The move to amend the existing rules of 1994 will help the government to decide on the reservation for SC, ST, and OBC candidates in ULB polls. Also, the statute will be called, Odisha Municipal Amendment Rules, 2021.  

Mentioning Section 6 in the Amendment Bill, Central Government proposed changes in the Cinematograph Act. The provision gives powers to the Centre to order re-examination of films without justifying the reasons, giving makers the chance to explain their deeds. Attempting to withdraw the order of Karnataka High Court and Supreme Court upon Section 6(1), the Union government has not given any justification for changes in Cinematograph Act.

Gujarat Assembly on September 24 unanimously passed a bill that prohibits land grabbing in the state. Under The Gujarat Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill, 2020, land grabbers will incur a jail term of minimum ten years, which may extend up to 14 years. Besides, the accused will bear the burden of proving not guilty. Bill also proposes to set up a special court for fast trials of such cases.

Union Government announced 23 new bills which will be introduced in the upcoming monsoon session. The announcement included 11 bills which seek to replace ordinances. Important bills such as violence against health workers, Jammu and Kashmir official language bill, Multi-state co-operative societies bill are also listed for introduction. The monsoon session will begin on September 14 with the Rajyasabha spokesperson election.