Current Affairs April 2020 - Bills & Acts
1 - President gave assent to Ordinance to protect healthcare workers
President Ram Nath Kovind has approved promulgation of Ordinance to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 in the light of COVID-19 pandemic situation making acts of violence against the healthcare workers as cognizable and non-bailable offences. It has provision for compensation in cases of injury to healthcare service professionals or damage to their property.
The amendment also makes a provision of imprisonment for up to seven years and fine of up to two lakh rupees in cases of violence and damage. The ordinance covers public and clinical healthcare service providers, such as doctors, nurses, paramedical workers, etc.
2 - Power Ministry introduced new draft of Electricity Amendment Bill
The Union Ministry of Power has introduced the fourth draft of the Electricity (Amendment) Bill since 2014, which seeks to set up an Electricity Contract Enforcement Authority (ECEA) having power of a civil court to settle disputes related to power purchase agreement between discoms and gencos.
The draft provides that the ECEA will have sole authority to adjudicate matters related to specific performance of contracts related to purchase or sale of power, between power generation companies (gencos) and distribution companies (discoms).
3 - Government ordinance extended various time limits under Taxation and Benami Acts
Government provided for extension of various time limits under the Taxation and Benami Acts. The ordinance also provided for extension of last date for filing of original as well as revised income-tax returns for the financial year 2018-19 to 30th June.
The ordinance provided tax relief to Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES FUND). The Aadhaar-PAN linking date and last date of furnishing of the Central Excise returns was also extended to 30th June.
4 - Finance Commission advises states to use FRBM ‘escape’ clause to fight Covid
Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission, NK Singh, has said that states can use the escape clause under their Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRBM) to raise additional resources to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. Under the FRBM Acts, the limit for the fiscal deficit is 3% and there is an escape clause to raise the deficit up to 50 basis points in exceptional situations.
Several states recently asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for forbearance in FY21, for raising the deficit level to 5%.
5 - Centre expanded domicile rule for J&K for 15 years
The Centre has defined new domicile rule for Jammu and Kashmir which includes those who have lived in the Union Territory for 15 years. A person residing in Jammu and Kashmir for at least 15 years will now be eligible to be a domicile of the Union Territory, according to the new rule issued by the Centre.
The provisions of the Act authorize the Tehsildar as a competent authority for issuing the domicile certificate by way of a gazette notification in the form of a SRO-29 state laws have been repealed while 109 have been amended.
