Awadh region to be carved into separate state if BSP forms govt at Centre, says Mayawati
Lucknow, May 13: The Awadh region will be carved into a separate state if the BSP comes to power at the Centre after the Lok Sabha elections, party chief Mayawati said on Monday.
Mayawati made the promise while addressing a rally for the Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP) candidates in Lucknow, Mohanlalganj, Rae Bareli and Amethi.
Reiterating her old stance on the reorganisation of Uttar Pradesh, she said, "The people of the region have been demanding that Awadh should be carved into a separate state. When our party comes to power at the Centre, the region will be made into a separate state, which will also include Lucknow."
In November 2011, the then-state government headed by Mayawati passed a bill to divide Uttar Pradesh into four states -- Purvanchal, Paschim Pradesh, Awadh Pradesh and Bundelkhand.
However, the then-United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre sent the proposal back to the state, demanding several clarifications.
In her speech, Mayawati also criticised the Congress, the BJP and other opposition parties on the issue of reservation.
When the Samajwadi Party was in power in Uttar Pradesh, the then-chief minister Akhilesh Yadav abolished quotas for reserved categories in promotion of government employees, she said.
The BSP tried to raise the matter in Parliament when the Congress was in power and the BJP in opposition. At that time, both the parties did not support the BSP but, today, when elections are being held, they are talking about giving reservations, Mayawati added.
She also claimed that the country's first law minister Bhimrao Ambedkar had asked the then-prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru to form a commission to completely fill the reservation quota for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes categories but the Congress was not ready for it.
"As a result, Ambedkar resigned from his post. Similarly, during the VP Singh government at the Centre, implementation of the Mandal Commission's recommendations by his government was opposed by all opposition parties, including the Congress and the BJP. The mentality of these parties towards these classes has not changed," she added.
Referring to the Centre's free ration scheme, Mayawati said, "In return for the little ration that is being given to you, people of the BJP are going from village to village and saying that you have consumed their salt and should vote for them."
"But I want to tell you that the ration given to you for free does not come from the pockets of the BJP and the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) but from your tax money. This is not a favour from the BJP and the RSS," she added.
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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.
