List of CMM Courts sorted by Court Complex / Location and Court Room No.

What is the RPF?

The RPF or Railway Protection Force is a statutory body which is set up under the The Railway Protection Force Act, 1957 with the primary responsibility of protecting the property of the Indian Railways.

As per the Railway Protection Force Act, 1957:
(e) “railway property” includes any goods, money or valuable security, or animal, belonging to, or in the charge or possession of, a railway administration;

What is GRP?

What is the difference between RPF and GRP?

You would often have seen uniformed Army, Navy or Air Force Personnel standing behind the President of India or Governor of any State in India. Who are these people and what is their role? Are they bodyguards?

They are known as Aide-de-camp or ADC.

Who is an ADC or Aide-de-camp?

An ADC or Aide-de-camp is an Attendant, Assistant or Secretary of the President / Governor appointed from the Armed Forces or the Indian Police Service or even the Indian Administrative Service. The ADC historically was like a “wing-man” who would assist the king or ruler with mounting / dismounting from his horse and also attending to secretarial or administrative activities.

Though India has had a female President, there has never been a female ADC appointed yet.

Are ADCs different from the President’s Body Guards?

Yes. ADCs wear a distinct uniform with a braided cord on the right shoulder, whereas President’s bodyguards are usually horse mounted and are more for show and pomp.

What is the role of an ADC?

Who appoints the ADC for the President of India or Governor of a State?

This article deals with the role, powers and functions of an MLC or Member of the Legislative Council in any State in India.

Can an MLC travel toll-free on any National Highway in India?

Yes. Sitting MLC’s are exempt by the National Highway Authority of India from paying any toll tax for use of the highways. The MLA has to be physically present in the car when seeking exemption from toll for that journey.

This article deals with the role, powers and functions of an MLA or Member of the Legislative Assembly in any State in India.

Which provisions of the Constitution of India give power to an MLA?

Art 168 (2):
Where there are two Houses of the Legislature of a State, one shall be known as the Legislative Council and the other as the Legislative Assembly, and where there is only one House, it shall be known as the Legislative Assembly…

What are the qualifications required for being an MLA?

As per the Guidelines of the Election Commission, the following guidelines have been issued for qualification as a Member of Legislative Assembly to any State in India.

2.3. QUALIFICATIONS FOR ELECTION TO A LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
2.3.1. If a Candidate want to stand for election to the Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly)
of a State (other than the State of Jammu and Kashmir) or of a Union Territory
(including the National Capital Territory of Delhi), he/she must possess each of the
following qualifications:

1. A candidate must be citizen of India [Article 173(a) of the Constitution, section 4(a)
   of the Govt. of Union Territories Act, 1963 and section 4 (a) of the Govt. of National
   Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991];
2. Candidate must make and subscribe before some person authorized in that behalf
   by the Election Commission an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for
   the purpose in the Third Schedule to the Constitution or, as the case may be in the
   First Schedule to the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 or the Schedule to
   the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 [Article 173 (a) and
   Form VII/A in the Third Schedule to the Constitution, Section 4(a) and Form 1 in the
   First Schedule to the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963 and section 4(a)
   and Form 1 in the Schedule to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi
   Act, 1991];
3. Candidate must not be less than twenty-five years of age on the date of scrutiny of
   nominations [Article 173b) of the Constitution, section 4(b) of the Government of
   Union Territories Act, 1963 and section 4(b) of the Government of National Capital
   Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 read with section 36(2) (a) of the Representation of the
   People Act, 1951];
4. 25a. If a candidate wants to contest for a seat in the Legislative Assembly of a State or Union Territory reserved for the Scheduled Castes or for the Scheduled Tribes of
   that State, or that Union Territory, then he/she must be a member of any of those
   Castes or, as the case may be, of those Tribes, and in addition, he/she must also be
   an elector for any Assembly Constituency in that State or that Union Territory;
   b. If a candidate wants to contest for a seat reserved for the Scheduled Tribes of an autonomous district of Assam, then he/she must be member of a Scheduled Tribe of any autonomous district and in addition, he/she must be an elector for the Assembly Constituency in which such seat or any other seat is reserved for that district;
   c. If a candidate wants to contest for a seat reserved for Sikkimese of Bhutia Lepcha origin in the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim, then he/she must be a person either of Bhutia or Lepcha origin, and in addition, he/she must also be an elector for any
   Assembly constituency in that State other than the constituency reserved for the
   Sanghas;
   d. If a candidate wants to contest for the seat reserved for the Sanghas in the
   Legislative Assembly of Sikkim, then he/she must be an elector for the Sangha
   Constituency in that State;
   e. If a candidate wants to contest for a general seat, that is to say, for a seat not
   reserved as aforesaid, then he/she must be an elector for any constituency in the
   State or Union Territory concerned.
   
   2.3.2. All the relevant provisions of the Constitution and the law, referred to above, are reproduced in Appendix 3.
   
   2.3.3. The above are the various qualifications, which a candidate must possess if he/she want to stand as a candidate for election to Lok Sabha or a Vidhan Sabha. A candidate must be very careful about this. He/she is advised to take special care in respect of the following two matters.

Do MLAs need to take an Oath?

Yes. as per Art. 188 of the Constitution of India, an MLA must take an oath or affirmation.

Art 188. Every member of the Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council of a State shall, before taking his seat,make and subscribe before the Governor, or some person appointed in that behalf by him, an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule.

Constitution of India, Article 188

Is there a punshiment for MLAs who do not take an Oath?

Yes.

Art. 193. If a person sits or votes as a member of the Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council of a State before he has complied with the requirements of article188, or when he knows that he is not qualified or that he is disqualified for membership thereof, or that he is prohibited from so doing by the provisions of any law made by Parliament or the Legislature of the State, he

Constitution of India, Article 193

Can an MLA travel toll-free on any National Highway in India?

Yes. Sitting MLA’s are exempt by the National Highway Authority of India from paying any toll tax for use of the highways. The MLA has to be physically present in the car when seeking exemption from toll for that journey.