• NATIONAL

Legalizing Prostitution

A Supreme Court Bench, comprising of Justices Dalveer Bhandari and A.K. Patnaik has sought the Government's stance on legalizing prostitution in a petition filed by an NGO. The court, noting the trafficking of children and its inherent relation to the sex trade, took upon the issue of prostitution. The Immoral Traffic (Suppression) Act, 1956, permits prostitutes to practice their trade privately, but cannot legally solicit customers in public. Organized prostitution (brothels, prostitution rings, pimping etc.) is illegal.

Petition to impeach Justice Dinakaran

The petition seeking impeachment of Karnataka High Court Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran has gathered momentum with more than 50 Rajya Sabha members signing the petition. As per the law, the petition seeking to launch impeachment proceeding needs to be signed by at least 50 MPs of the Rajya Sabha or 100 MPs of the Lok Sabha. After securing the required signatures, the petition is to be submitted to the Rajya Sabha Chairman or the Lok Sabha Speaker, as the case may be who is then required to constitute a committee of three people - a sitting Supreme Court judge, a high court chief justice and a jurist - to inquire into the charges and submit their report to the house. If they find the judge guilty and recommend his removal, the matter is sent for voting to parliament where it has to be approved by a two-thirds majority of each house (present and voting) and an absolute majority of the total membership of each house.

Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) recommend tougher corporate governance norms

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has put up a report prepared by the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) on proposed changes to corporate governance norms. The ICSI report recommends a mandatory rotation of audit firms after six years and also mandates a maximum tenure of six years for independent directors.

GST Slabs likely to be unveiled soon

The goods and services tax (GST) slabs that are likely to be unveiled soon will have a zero slab for exempted items, a standard rate for majority of the goods and services, and another "moderate" rate. Precious metals are likely to continue to attract 1% tax. This has to be done to bring uniformity in tax compliance for the business community and to facilitate it to maintain only a single book of accounts for both state GST and Central GST tax payment. The implementation of GST is scheduled for 1 April.

Government mulling norms for Municipal Service Regulators

The Ministry of Urban Development is considering guidelines for states to set up Municipal Services Regulators in a move to remove utility pricing from the ambit of politicians, while ensuring standards. The guidelines will also provide framework to oversee municipal services such as water, solid waste management and sewage.

SEBI bans requirement of NOCs (No objection certificates) to shift mutual fund agents

The capital market regulator, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), has issued a circular banning the requirement of "no objection certificate" by an investor from a mutual fund agent to shift to another mutual fund agent. The Association of Mutual Funds of India (Amfi), had introduced the need for an NOC in 2002, saying rich investors were being lured to change agents. However, this caused difficulty to investors who were dissatisfied with their distributors and wanted to shift to a new one as the existing distributors would make it tough for the investors by simply not issuing them an NOC to do so.

• INTERNATIONAL

Increase in work visas for skilled Chinese workers

The Indian Government plans to double the number of work visas for skilled Chinese workers in an attempt to meet the country's increasing electricity demand and also to ease tension between India and China. Several Indian power project developers have placed orders with Chinese firms, largely on account of the inability of local manufacturers to meet growing demand for equipment. Chinese equipment is relatively inexpensive and immediately available.

US Supreme Court dismisses challenge to Chrysler sale

The US Supreme Court dismissed the final challenge to the sale of Chrysler Group assets to Italian automaker Fiat in an appeal from a ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. The appeal was opposed by both the Obama administration and the new Chrysler, and the Court dismissed the appeal as moot, since the sale was finalized in June.

Female genital mutilation outlawed by Ugandan Parliament

The Ugandan Parliament voted unanimously to outlaw female genital mutilation (FGM). Accordingly, under the new legislation anyone who conducts the procedure faces a 10-year prison sentence, and anyone convicted of aggravated FGM faces life imprisonment.

US Senate Committee approves journalist shield bill

The US Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would protect journalists' abilities to shield sources in federal court proceedings. Under the Free Flow of Information Act which was approved, the federal government would not be able compel a journalist to produce protected documents or sources unless the government shows it has exhausted other means of obtaining the information, that the information sought is vital to the resolution of the case, and that compelling the production of the document or source is in public interest.