Galapagos tortoise
Why in news?
- Recently, Diego (Chelonoidis hoodensis, or the giant tortoise species) has retired from the captive breeding programme in the Galapagos National Park, Ecuador.
- He will be returned to Española Island, from where he was taken around 80 years ago.
Key Points:
- Diego is 100 years old and joined the breeding programme in 1976. The tortoise population has since gone up from 15 to 2,000. He is responsible for about 40% of the offspring produced.
- Another male tortoise ‘E5’ has generated about 60% offspring.
- Diego has a long leathery neck, dull-yellow face and beady eyes. Fully stretched out, he extends to about five feet and weighs about 176 pounds.
- The long neck is critical for his species’ survival, helping the tortoises crane their necks to feed on cacti.
Threats:
- Tortoises on the Galápagos Islands served as an excellent source of food for seafarers in the 1800s so a large number were picked up from the islands.
- Feral goats on the islands posed another danger, competing for food, destroying the tortoises’ habitat.
- It is Critically Endangered under IUCN Red List Status.
Classical languages in India
Why in news?
- At the recently concluded 93rd edition of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, a resolution was passed demanding the declaration of Marathi as a ‘Classical’ language.
About:
- Currently, six languages enjoy the ‘Classical’ status: Tamil (declared in 2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014).
The guidelines for declaring a language as ‘Classical’ are:
- High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years;
- A body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers;
- The literary tradition be original and not borrowed from another speech community;
- The classical language and literature being distinct from modern, there may also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots.
Benefits as a Classical language:
- Two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in classical Indian languages.
- A Centre of Excellence for studies in Classical Languages is set up.
- The University Grants Commission (UGC) is requested to create, to start with at least in the Central Universities, a certain number of Professional Chairs for the Classical Languages so declared.
Article 131
Why in news?
- The Kerala government, the first state to challenge the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, filed a petition under Article 131 of the Constitution to declare the law unconstitutional and in violation of Articles 14 (equality before law), 21 (protection of life and personal liberty) and 25 (freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, and propagation of religion).
Key highlights:
- Article 131 of the Constitution vests the Supreme Court with original jurisdiction over disputes occurring between states or between states and the Centre.
- The original jurisdiction of a court means the power to hear a case for the first time, as opposed to appellate jurisdiction, in which the court reviews the decision of a lower court.
- This jurisdiction shall not extend to a dispute arising out of any agreement having been entered into or executed before the commencement of this Constitution.
- In ‘State of Rajasthan vs Union of India’, 1977, the Supreme Court ruled that “mere wrangles between governments have no place in the scheme of that Article.”
Article 32 vs Article 131:
- Unlike the original jurisdiction under Article 32 (which gives the top court the power to issue writs, etc.), the jurisdiction in Article 131 is exclusive, meaning it is only the Supreme Court which has this authority.
- Under Article 226, the High Courts too have the power to issue writs, directions etc.