Tuesday, September 04, 2012

LONDON OLYMPICS 2012 | Highlights | Current Affairs


  • The 2012 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad known as London Olympics 2012
  • Held in London, United Kingdom, from 27 July to 12 August 2012
  • London hosted the Olympic games in 1908, 1948 and 2012
  • The Olympic motto is ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’. This is Latin for ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’
  • 204 nations, 26 sports, 39 disciplines and 302 events at the Olympic Games in 2012
  • 10500 OLympic atheletes and 7500 Olympic team officials
  • The first event, the group stages in women's football, began two days earlier, on 25 July
  • London was selected as the host city on 6 July 2005 during the 117th IOC Session in Singapore
  • London was the first city to officially host the modern Olympic Games three times
  • The main focus was a new 200-hectare (490-acre) Olympic Park, constructed on a former industrial site at Stratford, East London
  • The opening ceremony, directed by Danny Boyle
  • During the Games, Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympic athlete of all time, winning his 22nd medal
  • Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Brunei entered female athletes for the first time
  • Women's boxing included first time in Olympic Games
  • Olympic Games became the first at which every sport had female competitors
  • Jamaica's Usain Bolt sensationally defended his title as the fastest man on the planet as he sprinted to glory in an Olympic record time of 9.63 seconds
  • David Lekuta Rudisha of Kenya became the first man to break the 800m world record three times
  • United States of America got 1st rank in medal ranking with a total of 104 medals (46G 29S 29B)
  • People's Republic of China got 2nd rank in medal ranking with a total of 88 medals (38G 27S 23B)
  • Great Britain achieved its highest tally of gold medals since 1908, finishing third in the medal table with a total of 65 medals (29G 17S 19B)
  • India got 55th rank in medal Table with a total of 06 medals (0G 2S 4B)
  • Indian Grappler Sushil Kumar and shooter Vijay Kumar fetched silver medals while five-time world champion M C Mary Kom, ace shuttler Saina Nehwal, shooter Gagan Narang and wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt bagged bronze medals.

Eminent Legal Personality | Justice K Subba Rao

  • Full Name Justice Koka Subba Rao
  • Born on July 15, 1902.
  • His father was a lawyer, died early.
  • His Education B.A., B.L.
  • He was good sportsman and ever helpful to his friends.
  • Practised in Madras High Court, from 1926
  • He joined the office of his father-in-law, P.Venkata Raman Rao Naidu, who was junior of the Andhra Kesari Prakasam Pantulu.
  • When Sri Venkateswara University was established at Tirupati in 1954, Subbarao became its first Chancellor and remained in the position till the University Act was amended restoring the Chancellorship to the Governor.
  • He was recruited as District Munsif and worked for few months in Bapatla, Guntur district.
  • Appointed as Judge, Madras High Court, March 1948 - July 1954
  • Chief Justice, Andhra High Court, Guntur, July 5, 1954 - October 31, 1956
  • Chief Justice Andhra Pradesh High Court, November 1, 1956 - January 1958
  • Appointed as Judge, Supreme Court, since January 31, 1958.
  • Appointed as Chief Justice of India on 30.06.1966.
  • Retired on 11.04.1967.
  • He has contested for the President of India in 1967 as a candidate of united opposition parties.
  • He lost the elections to Zakir Husain.
  • Bangalore University honoured him with Doctorate.
  • He died on May 6, 1976,
  • His judgements are ever remembered whenever the fundamental rights of the citizens are challenged.

Eminent Legal Personality | Justice Sujata V Manohar

  • Full Name Mrs. Justice Sujata Vasant Manohar
  • Date of birth 28th August, 1934
  • Her father Late K.T. Desai was the Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court
  • Educated at Bombay (India), Oxford(UK) and London(UK)
  • Enrolled as an advocate on 14th February, 1958 at Bombay
  • Appointed as Assistant Government Pleader during 1970- 1971
  • Appointed as Additional Judge of Bombay High Court on 23rd January, 1978
  • Appointed as Permanent Judge of Bombay High Court on 28November, 1978
  • Appointed as Chief Justice of Bombay High Court on 15th January, 1994
  • She became the first woman Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court
  • Transferred as Chief Justice of Kerala High Court on 21April, 1994
  • Elevated as the Supreme Court Judge on 8th November, 1994
  • She retired on 27th August, 1999

Lok Sabha versus Rajya Sabha

Money Bills originate only in the Lok Sabha. If a dispute arises as to whether a Bill is a Money Bill or not, the decision of the Speaker of Lok Sabha is final. Rajya Sabha has no power to reject a Money Bill. It can only make recommendations, ie, suggestions. The Lok Sabha may accept or reject all or any of the recommendations of the Rajya Sabha.

Ordinary Bills can originate in either House. In case of disagreement between the two Houses, the bill is referred to a joint sitting of both the Houses. It seems that the two houses have been placed on an equal footing in this regard. Really speaking, the Rajya Sabha is in a weaker position in this matter. Since the total membership of Rajya Sabha is less than even half of the total strength of the Lok Sabha, the will of the Lok Sabha would naturally prevail at a joint sitting. Moreover, a joint session is presided over by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Members of both the Houses can put questions to ministers about the work of their departments. They discuss all matters of public importance. But here again, Lok sabha has more power than the Rajya Sabha. The Council of Ministers is responsible only to Lok Sabha. Rajya Sabha has no power to pass a motion expressing No-Confidence in the Council of Ministers.

Constitution puts Rajya Sabha on an equal footing with Lok Sabha in these matters : the election and impeachment of the President, removal of the Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts, proclamation of Emergency, promulgation of Ordinances and Constitutional Amendments.

The fact remains that Rajya Sabha is not at par with Lok Sabha. It does not, however, mean that Rajya Sabha has no important role to play in the governmental machinery. Neither House by itself constitutes Parliament. It is the two Houses together that are the parliament in India. Parliament can create new All India Services only if Rajya Sabha passes a resolution to this effect.

Moreover, Rajya Sabha is a 'Continuing House', a parliament chamber. it is not subject to dissolution like the Lok Sabha. It has to play a major role during the periods when Lok sabha is dissolved. All this helps to show that Rajya Sabha is an influential and useful body.