Current Affairs 8th December 2017

Current Affairs 8th December 2017 - Important Points

• Marriage Bill with same-sex passed by -  Australian parliament 
• International Civil Aviation Day observed globally on - 7th December 2017
• CBDT extends deadline for linking of Aadhaar with PAN to -  31st March 2018
• Supreme Court agrees to examine adultery provision in -  IPC

Current Affairs 8th December 2017 - Details

Marriage Bill with same-sex passed by -  Australian parliament 

To allow the same-sex marriage, the Australian Parliament voted for same-sex marriage bill with maximum votes, following a bitter and divisive talk settled by the government polling voters in a much-criticised ballot survey that powerfully endorsed the alteration.
With this acceptance of the bill, the definition of marriage has from simply between a man and a woman to “a joining of 2 people” excluding all others. The same sex marriage will be a legal right for its residents.
The bill proceeded with a majority that wasn’t challenged, however, 5-members submitted their opposition to the bill.
It is noteworthy to know that the Senate had passed the same bill last week with 43 votes in favour and 12 votes in against. After royal consent and other regulations, the law will expect to come into existence in about a month, with the 1st weddings supposed about a month later.
Freedom of speech
The same-sex marriage bill will safeguard freedoms of speech and religion for gay-marriage challengers were all refused, though those matters may be considered later.
The government has formed a committee to study how to safeguard religious freedoms once gay-wedding is a reality in Australia.
The same-sex marriage bill facilitates religious organizations like churches and others to boycott gay marriage without disturbing Australian anti-discrimination laws.
Gay marriage

• Australia began a national postal survey in November which required an amendment to the marriage definition.
• 62% of Australian voters who took part in the government-commissioned postal voting, approved this marriage  .
• However, the United Nations Human Rights Committee had took the ballot survey “an unnecessary and divisive public opinion poll.”

International Civil Aviation Day observed globally on - 7th December 2017

International Civil Aviation Day was celebrated on 7th December 2017 with the topic ‘Working Together to Ensure No Country is Left Behind’.
The moto behind the day is to help generate and fortify worldwide awareness of the significance of international civil aviation to the social and economic development of States and of the important role of the International Civil Aviation Organization in supporting States to cooperate and understand a truly global quick transit network at the service of all humanity.
Key Highlights

• The present theme was nominated by the International Civil Aviation Organization council for a period of 4 years from 2015 to 2018.
•  Every 5 years, coinciding with ICAO anniversaries like 2014, 2019, 2024 and 2029, the ICAO Council initiates a special anniversary topic for International Civil Aviation Day.
• However, between these anniversary years, the Council spokespersons select a single topic for the all 4-year intervening period.
• The campaign spotlight ICAO’s efforts to help States in implementing ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices.
• The focus of the work is to support ensure that SARP execution is better harmonized globally so that all states have entry to the significant socio-economic benefits of secure and reliable air transport and can address protection, security and emissions-related matters.

Did you know?

• In 1944, members from 54 countries meet in Chicago, USA and signed the Convention on International Civil Aviation, also famously known as the ‘Chicago Convention’.
• The International Civil Aviation Day was formed in 1994 as a part of ICAO's 50th anniversary movements.
• In 1996, the UN General Assembly officially identified 7 December as International Civil Aviation Day in the UN system.

CBDT extends deadline for linking of Aadhaar with PAN to -  31st March 2018

The Central Board of Direct Taxes on 8th December 2017 prolonged the deadline for linking Aadhaar with Permanent Account Number till 31st March 2018.
The deadline was prolonged considering that few of the taxpayers have not yet finished the linking of PAN with Aadhaar. 
All taxpayers having Aadhaar Number must link Aadhaar with Permanent Account Number as per the rules of recently introduced section 139AA of the Income-tax Act, 1961.
Earlier, the last date for linking of Aadhaar with PAN was prolonged till 31st August 2017. This was further extended up to 31st December 2017.
Did you know?

• The Aadhaar Act, 2016 requires mention of Aadhaar number for enjoying government facilities or services starting from getting subsidised LPG to opening a new bank account. It was drafted in favour of the privacy as a fundamental right. 
• Section 7 of the Act states that in order to enjoy certain subsidy benefits, the government can claim for an Aadhaar number. 
• On the other side, the linking of Aadhaar with PAN has also been made compulsory by an amendment to the Income Tax Act, 1961. 
• This Act protects privacy of people as their fundamental right and its provisions provide for protection of personal information.

Supreme Court agrees to examine adultery provision in -  IPC

The Supreme Court of India has finalised to look into whether the Indian Penal Code provision of adultery, which considers only the man as an offender and the married woman as a ‘victim,’ is hamulating and commodifies women.
As stated in the Section 497 of IPC “Whoever has sexual intercourse with a person who is and whom he know to or has reason to trust to be the wife of another man, without the permission of that man, such sexual intercourse can not be taken as the crime of rape, is guilty of the crime of adultery and shall be punished.”
It was asserted that this penal section was framed at a time when women were meant as a man’s property.
Thus, the court finalised to issue notice and informed that it will inspect 2 aspects of the provision.
1.The woman is always portrayed as a victim, whereas only the man is accused of adultery. So is she the
‘property’ of her husband or a passive thing?
2.If the husband connives or agrees with the adultery, then the crime ceases?
Further, the section 497 explains that only a husband or the individual in whose care the husband has left his wife can file an objection under this section of IPC.
Important Highlights

• While passing the order, Chief Justice Dipak Misra said that the Constitution of India confers equal status to man and woman. Now, it’s the time when society has to perceive that a woman is equal to her husband in every respect.
• The court also asked that whether this amounts to a contravention of woman’s fundamental right against gender discrimination under Article 15 of the Constitution when a law supposes a patronising attitude towards women?
• It also asked that when the section 497 states that a woman could go for an adulterous relationship if she had the permission of her husband, does this downgrade her to the level of a commodity.
• Taking the provision as “quite archaic,” the Supreme Court perceived in the order that when society headways, rights are obeyed and a new generation of thoughts should spring outside.