Parliament Passes Anti-Hijacking Bill, 2016

 Parliament has passed the Anti-Hijacking Bill, 2016 to widen ambit of law dealing with this anti-hijacking crime.

•  The Bill was first passed in the Rajya Sabha and later in the Lok Sabha in May 2016. 
• Now the Bill will go for Presidential assent as per Article 111 of Indian Constitution. 
• The Bill provides for the death penalty for hijackers even if ground airport personnel and handling staff are killed during such acts.

Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 comes into force

The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 came into force on 1 May 2016.

•  In this regard, Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA) had notified 69 of the total 92 sections of the Act to bring it into force from 1 May 2016.

About the Act :

•  Sets up in motion the process of making necessary operational rules and creation of institutional infrastructure for protecting the interests of consumers.
•  Promotes the growth of real estate sector in an environment of trust, confidence, credible transactions and efficient and time bound execution of projects. 
• Real Estate Regulatory Authority will be formulated within one year as per the mandate of Act.
•  Regulatory Authorities will have to dispose of complaints in 60 days and Appellate Tribunals will be required to adjudicate cases in 60 days.

Parliament passes Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015

The Parliament has passed the Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015.

•  The Bill amends the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951.
•  Now it will go for Presidential assent as per Article 111 of the Indian Constitution.
•  The bill seeks to bring industries engaged in the manufacture of potable alcohol under the exclusive control of States in all respects.
• However, the Centre will continue to be responsible for formulating policy and regulating foreign collaboration for all products of fermentation industries, including industrial and potable alcohol.

The Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015 :

• The Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015 was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 7, 2015.
• The Bill was introduced by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Ms Nirmala Sitharaman.
•  The Bill amends the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951.

Parliament passes Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Parliament passed Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2016 to include certain communities in the list of Scheduled Castes (SC) from 4 states.

•  The bill seeks to amend Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 to include certain communities from Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Kerala and West Bengal in the list.
•  It also has provisions for exclusion of certain communities from Odisha and removal of area restriction in respect of certain communities.

About the Bill :

• The bill was introduced in the Parliament by Union Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot as per the provisions of Article 341 of the Constitution.
•  Chhattisgarh: Inclusion of Sais, Sahis, Sarathi, Soot-Sarathi, Thanwar communities in the list. 
• Haryana: Inclusion of (i) Aheria, Aheri, Hari, Heri, Thori, Turi and (ii) Rai Sikh communities in the list.

Parliament passes Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2016

    The Parliament has passed the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

• The Bill amends the Sikh Gurdwaras Act, that regulates administration of Sikh Gurdwaras in Chandigarh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.
• The Bill proposes removing an exception made for Sahajdharis in 1944 that allowed them to vote in elections for the Board and committees instituted under the Act.

Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 :

• The Sikh Gurdwaras Act, 1925 was a piece of legislation in British India, which legally defined Sikh identity and brought Sikh gurdwaras (houses of worship) under the control of an elected body of orthodox Sikhs. 
• Under the 1925 Act, every Sikh who is above 21 years of age and is registered as a voter is entitled to vote in the SGPC elections.
•  This Act had created an exception for Sehjdhari Sikhs who trim or shave their beard or hair, and allowed them to vote.

SGPC poll controversy :

The SGPC elections were last held in 2011, which were challenged by the Sehajdhari Federation after the Sehajdharis’ right to vote in the gurdwara elections was withdrawn by the Centre, reportedly on the advice of the ruling SAD.