What to Read in Indian Express Editorial( Topic and Syllabus wise)

Editorial 1: As Supreme Court frowns at ED, the allegations against Tamil Nadu’s liquor retailer

Context

The Supreme Court stayed proceedings in the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED’s) money-laundering investigation into government-run liquor retailer Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), saying that the central agency was “crossing all limits” and “violating the federal structure”.

Background: ED and Its Expanding Role

• The Enforcement Directorate, a central agency under the Ministry of Finance, is tasked with enforcing economic laws, especially those related to money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
• In recent years, the ED’s reach has expanded significantly, with probes into a range of issues from financial fraud to alleged corruption in state-run entities.
• This increased activism has attracted criticism, particularly from opposition-led states, which argue that the agency is being used selectively to target political adversaries.

The TASMAC Case: A Constitutional Conundrum

• TASMAC, being a state-owned enterpriseresponsible for retail liquor sales in Tamil Nadu, falls within the State List under the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
• When the ED initiated an investigation into alleged irregularities in TASMAC’s operations, it triggered concerns of jurisdictional overreach.
• The Supreme Court’s decision to stay the probe marks a rare but firm judicial intervention aimed at protecting the federal principles embedded in the Constitution.
• The court’s sharp criticism highlights a fundamental issue: whether central agencies can, without adequate state cooperation or evidence of interstate ramifications, investigate a purely state-run entity. Such actions may undermine state autonomy and disrupt the federal equilibrium.

Legal and Political Implications

• The court’s stance sends a strong message on the need for restraint and respect for constitutional boundaries.
• Legally, it reaffirms the idea that investigative powers of central agencies must not contravene the federal division of powers.
• Politically, the ruling may embolden other states to challenge perceived overreach by central agencies, potentially leading to more frequent judicial scrutiny.
• However, the ruling also raises questions about the balance between combating corruption and preserving federalism. If states shield their agencies or enterprises from central scrutiny under the guise of federalism, it could hamper efforts to enforce accountability.

Conclusion

• The Supreme Court’s stay on the ED’s investigation into TASMAC is a critical moment in the ongoing negotiation between Union authority and State autonomy.
• While the fight against corruption is paramount, it must be pursued within the bounds of the Constitution. The principle of cooperative federalism must guide interactions between central agencies and state institutions, with both respecting each other’s domains and jurisdictions.

 

Editorial 2: Lions out of the woods

Context

The latest population estimation exercise in Gujarat has recorded 891 lions, a 32% jump in population since 2020.

The surge in population

• In these five years, lions have also expanded their range by 17% — from 30,000 to 35,000 sq km — and now cover 58 talukas in 11 districts.
• The  increase in the lion population is a result not only of favourable geographic and climatic conditions but also of the state government’s consistent and dedicated efforts. For this success story to continue, however, more needs to be done.

The journey so far

• From under 200 in the 1960s when their last home in Gir was accorded special protection, Asiatic lions have made a remarkable recovery.
• Between 1990 and 2005, the lion’s range doubled from 6,600 sq km to 13,000 sq km. But in those early days of breaking new ground, the expansion of lions’ range resulted only in a modest 26% jump in numbers, from 284 to 359.

Asiatic lions – Their importance

• Unique Subspecies: Asiatic lions are genetically distinct from African lions and exist only in the Gir Forest region of India.
• Vulnerable: With a small population confined to a single area, they are extremely vulnerable to disease, habitat loss, and natural disasters.
• Ecological Role:As apex predators, they help maintain the balance of the food chain by controlling herbivore populations.
• Biodiversity Conservation:Protecting lions leads to the preservation of the entire ecosystem and the species that depend on it.
• Cultural Symbol:Lions are deeply embedded in Indian culture, mythology, and symbolism, including the national emblem of India.
• Environmental Indicator:The health of the lion population reflects the overall health of the ecosystem, making them a key indicator species.

Spreading thin

• The lions have colonised at least three new areas — Barda wildlife sanctuary, Jetpur and Babra-Jasdan — in the last five years.
• A nearly 900-strong population scattered across different locations strengthens the species recovery trend that made IUCN change the Asiatic Lion’s status from “critically-endangered” to “endangered” in 2008.
• A closer look at the numbers, however, shows that the population growth has not been commensurate with the expansion of the lion’s range over the decades.
• Over decades, as these sanctuaries have neared their carrying capacity, lions wandering out for space have reached wasteland, farmland and agri-plantations, interspersed with clumps of natural vegetation tagged as forest patches.
• Even on government records, only 56% of Gujarat’s 891 lions were found in forested areas.
• In the latest census, the 2020 report showed that the lion’s population density drops from 15.2 per 100 sq km in forested areas to just 1.65 in non-forested areas.

Stretching tolerance

• Non-forest areas close to human habitations are not the ideal habitat for a large carnivore species.
• But unlike leopards, lions are considered Gujarat’s pride and people are generally tolerant of the species. Also, these are highly-managed animals with frequent rescues, medical care and all.
• It’s ecologically an unstable situation. Quite a few of the lions in human-dominated habitats are often aggressive to people, and there have been reports of unprovoked attacks.
• Social carrying capacity, also has its limits. People and lions can live in harmony only when they share either space or time.
• For now, a combination of awareness campaigns, media sensitisation and timely compensation for livestock losses is keeping peace.
• What has also helped is the relative availability of wild prey, such as boars, outside forested areas due to limited hunting for bushmeat in the state.
• But many lions are also dependent on livestock, including those that they do not have to hunt.

Way forward

As potential targets of doubling the lion population to 2,000 are being tossed around, the Asiatic lion needs quality forest habitats away from human settlements to safeguard against potential conflict and epidemic breakouts.