Amit Shah orders study of protests since 1974 to prevent future agitations by ‘vested interests’
New Delhi: In a move aimed at preventing future large-scale agitations allegedly orchestrated by "vested interests," Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reportedly directed the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) to conduct an extensive study of post-Independence protests, especially those after 1974.
The directive was issued during the National Security Strategies Conference–2025, organised by the Intelligence Bureau in New Delhi in the last week of July, according to a report by The Indian Express published on Monday.
Quoting senior government officials, the report said that Shah has instructed the BPR&D to examine the causes, patterns and outcomes of those protests, including behind-the-scene players, with a specific focus on events from 1974 onwards. “It has been directed that an SOP should be formulated based on the outcome of the study to prevent mass agitations by vested interests in the future,” an official said.
Following Shah’s instructions, the BPR&D, under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), is reportedly in the process of forming a team to coordinate with state police departments, including their Crime Investigation Departments (CID), to gather data from old case files.
According to an official quoted by the news outlet, Shah has also asked the BPR&D to rope in financial investigation agencies like the Enforcement Directorate, Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) and the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to examine the “financial aspects” of such agitations.
The same financial agencies have also been directed to formulate a separate SOP to identify unknown terror networks, their linkages and designs through analysis of financial irregularities.
The report adds that Shah has asked the BPR&D to conduct a study on religious congregations, with a focus on understanding the causes of stampede incidents. The aim is to establish an SOP for monitoring and regulating large religious gatherings.
Additionally, Shah has reportedly asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Border Security Force (BSF) and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to develop separate methodologies to deal with Khalistani extremism and general criminal activities in Punjab.
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Ordinance issued to increase number of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38
New Delhi (PTI): The government has promulgated an ordinance to increase the strength of the Supreme Court from the present 34 judges to 38, including the Chief Justice of India.
The law ministry notified the ordinance on Saturday, which amended the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, to increase the sanctioned strength of the top court.
So far, the sanctioned strength of the top court was 34, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI). Now, the number of judges has been increased by four, taking the sanctioned strength to 38.
The top court will now have 37 judges, other than the CJI.
With the apex court having two vacancies at present, and the ordinance coming into force immediately, the Supreme Court Collegium will now have to recommend six names for appointment as judges in the top court.
A bill will be brought in the Monsoon Session of Parliament to convert the ordinance – an executive order – into a law passed by Parliament.
The Union Cabinet had cleared a draft bill on May 5 to increase the number of apex court judges.
The strength of the Supreme Court was last increased from 30 to 33 (excluding the CJI) in 2019.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, as originally enacted in 1956, put the maximum number of judges (excluding the CJI) at 10.
This number was increased to 13 by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges), Amendment Act, 1960, and to 17 by another amendment to the law.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 1986, augmented the strength of judges from 17 to 25, excluding the CJI.
A fresh amendment in 2009 further increased the strength from 25 to 30.
Article 124(3) of the Constitution lists the qualifications required to become a Supreme Court judge.
An Indian citizen who has either served as a high court judge for at least five years, or as an advocate for 10 years, or is a distinguished jurist, can be appointed to the top court.
The strength of the Supreme Court is increased based on the recommendations of the CJI, who writes to the Union law minister. After consulting the finance ministry, the Department of Justice under the law ministry moves the Cabinet with a draft bill.
