Saturday

ILSA: Bhopal Chapter

CRIL proudly announces that it is now the official Bhopal Chapter of the renowned International Law Students Association (ILSA).


The International Law Students Association is a non-profit association of students and lawyers who are dedicated to the promotion of international law. ILSA provides students with opportunities to study, research, and network in the international legal arena. The organization's activities include academic conferences, publications, the global coordination of student organizations, and the administration of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.


ILSA seeks to promote international law; to encourage communication and cooperation among students and lawyers internationally; to contribute to legal education; to promote social responsibility in the field of law; to increase opportunities for students to learn about other cultures and legal systems worldwide; and to publicize educational and career opportunities in international law.

ILSA's primary unit of organization is the ILSA Chapter in the form of a local International Law Society (ILS) at the school level. Lawyers in the field and students whose schools do not have a chapter are encouraged to register as Individual Members. ILSA chapters and individual members receive subscriptions to the ILSA Quarterly and are invited to participate in a number of ILSA events and activities, including ILSA's three annual conferences.

ILSA serves as an umbrella organization for its member chapters. Chapters exist as independent entities, but are also members of the larger ILSA organization. This structure allows chapters to meet the unique needs of its members while still maintaining access to an international network of pooled academic and organizational resources.

ILSA globally administers the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. Every year, thousands of students from more than 500 schools in over 80 countries participate, making the Jessup the largest moot court competition in the world.

ILSA organizes three conferences every year. ILSA also publishes books and other academic resources on topics related to international law.

THE CRIL TEAM

International Anti- Corruption Day


On the occasion of the International Anti-Corruption Day, Prayatna, working in the area of good governance through RTI and PIL is also a member of TII (Transparency International India) in collaboration with CRIL(Cell for Research in International Law) in  -National Law Institute University (NLIU) organized an interactive session of eminent personalities with youths from various educational institutions. The program was organized at Swaraj Bhawan on 9th December 2010 at 3.30 pm. Names such as Shri P.P. Tiwari, Chief Information Commissioner, M.P., Shri Surendra Singh, AGP known for his impeccable reputation, Shri Sanjay Dubey, Shri Sanjay Saxena, Smt. Meera Singh, Shri Vijay Manohar Tiwari  and Shri Ajay Dubey were present at the discussion. 

Sh. Tripathi observed that intellectual integrity is important and economic integrity was merely a result. RTI allows a rational man to figure out whether something has been done honestly or not. A man at a public post should have limited privacy. He felt that corruption could go down by almost 50% if people began to feel that their acts could be exposed. Even if they weren't actually punished, a change in the environment would certainly be brought about. He addressed the students and told them that they should not indulge in it and expose it where ever they find it.

Sh. Surendra Singh elaborated upon attitudinal change which could be both curative and preventive. One should stop blaming and accept that all of us are corrupt because often, when a person is receiving the benefits of corruption, such that his work is being done quickly, he often does not accept it as a manifestation of corruption. He further delved into the mean-end debate in context of today's materialistic world. People should be prepared to not accept a preferential treatment. India has a high population and low resources, therefore, merely relying on enforcement of laws has its limitations. He pointed out that a person could be elected to a public office despite allegations against him if the case was sub-judice. Cases in India often take more than a decade to be resolved. He also spoke about the vehement opposition to the Unique Identification Scheme since it would greatly curb the Benami Corruption. He said that the UID will go a long way in getting rid of this culture which according to him was the bone marrow of corruption.

Sh. Tiwari who is a successful journalist shared his experiences about a certain Bagwar village which was idyllic in nature in terms of complete self-sufficiency and therefore, no scope of corruption.

Sh. P.P. Tiwari, Chief Information Commisioner, Madhya Pradesh spoke of the MGNREGS where maximum corruption could be seen but had not been exposed due to lack of motivation and awareness. He said that the labourers were not getting their dues. Even where the corruption was exposed, no action had been taken. Moreover, RTI applications were often misused as a means of blackmail. He elaborated upon the fallacies of S. 27 and S. 28 of the Right to Information Act, 2005. It is an example of excessive delegated legislation where rules were being made ultra-vires to the main Act. This was ruining the main purpose of the Act. 

Sh. Ajay Dubey further elaborated upon S. 28 of the Act which allowed State Legislatures and High Courts to make rules. He asked a fundamental question whether the state legislatures could alter the very essence of the law made by the Centre. He quoted examples from the Madhya Pradesh scenario where the MP High Court made a rule that Rs. 500 should be paid for RTI on a tender and the State Legislature incorporated rules made by the State under S.8 (which speaks of exemptions from disclosure) of the Act. 

This was followed by a question-answer session where the students posed engaging questions to the information commissioner and former IPS officer as to how to oppose corruption when faced with in daily life. Concluding remarks were delivered by Dr. Arya who thanked all our esteemed guests including students and members of the civil society for making the talk a successful venture.

Launch of the Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC)

Launch followed by an interactive Session

ORGANISERS:

CELL FOR RESEARCH IN INTERNATIONAL LAW AND PRAYATNA
On 9th December, 2010, on the occasion of International Anti-corruption Day,NGO, Prayatna, working in the area of good governance through Right to Information and Public interest litigation; a member of TII (Transparency International India), in collaboration with CRIL(Cell for Research in International Law) and National Law Institute University (NLIU) organized an interactive session.
The chief guest for the occasion was Mr. Tiwari, Chief Information Commissioner, Madhya Pradesh. The occasion was also graced by the eminent presence of Mr. Surendra Singh, ADG. There was representative participation from all quarters including the Public departments, media, NGOs and also the young generation represented by the young legal minds from NLIU, Bhopal.
The occasion was also marked by the formal launch of Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC) as a joint endeavour of TII, Prayatana and CRIL with a primary objective to fight corruption by providing legal information, advice and assistance to victims and witnesses of corruption, enabling them to know their rights and pursue complaints.
The interactive session resulted in a very healthy discussion and dialogue taking into view the practical niceties of the issue.
Mr. Tiwari identified the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Programme as one of the worse examples of corruption in India at a grass-root level which affected the most deprived sections of the society.
Mr. Singh emphasized that curative mechanisms would not be enough to fight corruption and must also be supported by certain preventive mechanisms.
The Benami Culture in India was identified as a “Bone Marrow” of corruption in India and therefore the Universal Identification Number was unanimously agreed to be a welcome change which would curb the menace of corruption.
A zero tolerance agenda against corruption and self- responsibility of the common man were emphasized as primary steps to eliminate corruption.
By the launch of ALAC, the first step towards the campaign against corruption has already been taken; ALAC would be fully operational from the month of February, 2011.

Save the Tiger Campaign


CONSULTATIVE MEET ON SAVE TIGER ON 28.11.2010

ORGANISED BY
CELL FOR RESEARCH IN INTERNATIONAL LAW AND PRAYATNA

This meeting was attended by students from the GoGreen club of MANIT, Bhopal. It addressed the growing concerns of the efforts like Millenium Development Goals, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and sustainable development not being seriously acted upon. It also highlighted the clash between Tiger conservation and increasing commercial interest of the tourism industry where reserved forest area was being encroached upon because of the growth in tourism in forest areas. Mr. Dubey told us that an   RTI Application has been filed against endangering of core reserve area for tiger habitat due to unsystemized and unrestricted tourism. The three major issues delved into: ®    Tiger Protection ®    Tiger Habitat ®    Tigers in M.P. He further spoke of     development at the cost of nature and how the state appears to support development of unrestricted tourism. He brought to notice that only 276 tigers left in M.P. 6 Tiger Reserves. The  Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 talks about 2 specific areas of a tiger reserve: ®    An inner critical tiger reserve area ®    Outer to it, a buffer zone. He highlighted the inaction of the State government despite disappearance of 35 tigers from Panna, M.P.   No buffer zones had been created. Nor were later created in other reserves. It was alarming to note that only 1411 tigers left only in India. Among his observations, the most important were:
  •    International poaching should be checked
  •  Tourism should be stopped in Core Areas.
  •   Recurrent incidents of tigers (including the events at Panna and Bandhavgarh) being crushed by vehicles are not drawing any concern whatsoever from the authorities, despite media and citizen umbrage.
  •     Lack of conviction and intention to implement laws should be checked.
  •     Buffer Zone should be notified. Especially in context of:®    Deforestation ®    Illegal mining. 
  •   A fresh special tiger conservation plan should be made in the event of non-existence or ineffectiveness of prior special packages by the Central government.
  •  The petition filed in the court had also asked for an audit report on the expenditures on tiger conservation. Discrepancies like expenditure of crores on tiger conservation while not spotting tigers for over 3 years in areas were observed.
  • Citizens, especially the youth need to highlight their concern effectively and appeal and pressurize the government to take urgent and necessary measures to seriously enforce tiger conservation measures and go beyond mere speeches and conversations only. Urgent and immediate action is required.o       Requirement of active participation of citizens.
  •   Misuse of money and non-enforcement of laws were primary reasons behind failure of the Tiger project.
  •  Corruption has an entrenched nexus in tiger poaching.
Our faculty in-charge Dr. Raka Arya observed:
  •      Sustainable development in general and harmonious development in particular require immediate attention.
  •    The entire concept of Tiger tourism at the cost of the lives of the tigers itself is absolutely absurd and draws much concern and anxiety.
  •    Duplicity and hypocrisy in a country like India where tigers are being worshipped and being killed ruthlessly and unabashedly seeks condemnation.
  •   Original tribal/forest dwellers are well versed with the art of wildlife conservation. However, intruders and external forces lure them with money, benefits and/or other pressure tactics to indulge in poaching and selling of animal parts.
  •   It cannot be denied that poaching and selling of animal parts has become a huge and ever-increasing market.
  •    Apathy towards and interference in the lifestyle of both the tigers and the tribal/ forest dwellers has resulted in the ultimate deprivation of both.
  •   Original tribal/ forest dwellers have been outsmarted and displaced. Fake and ‘on  paper’ dwellers have encroached their area.
  •   Accountability of the conservation system and the government is required. The values of environment worship cannot be ignored. Best means and ways to protect tigers should be seriously and urgently implemented.
  •   Effective implementation of existing laws needs to be done.
  •  Such nexus often involve powerful people from within and outside the government. Therefore, there’s more difficulty in catching and prosecuting the culprits.
The meeting ended with the following conclusions :


o       Preparation of a memorandum of demands for conservation of tigers.
o       Eco-march and arrangement of conversation with government officials.
o       Formation of a citizens pressure group/ forum for interaction on this issue.
o       Regular open to all interactive sessions on tiger conservation.
o       ‘No’ to tiger tourism where the habitat to tigers are adversely affected.
o       Candle-light march demanding saving of tigers.
o       Conducting seminars, talks and like events across schools and colleges.
o       Introduction of special events initiating debate, discussion etc., in college fests.
o       Easy to understand Brochure of tiger conservation laws for circulation amongst the public.
o       Full support of the existing legal movements for tiger protection and conservation.
o       Tiger Protection integrity Pact – wherein government officials may be asked to sign an undertaking to show their solidarity, conviction and act towards tiger protection and conservation.