Bhagwant Mann slams speculations on social media about his removal as Punjab CM
Chandigarh (PTI): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday slammed speculations on social media about his removal from the top post and asserted that he will remain at the helm.
Addressing the media here, Mann said that some "experts" have changed the chief minister four times when he was in the hospital, while referring to some claims on social media.
The CM was discharged from a hospital in Mohali on Thursday, where he was admitted due to exhaustion and low heart rate.
Mann said when Kejriwal came to the Golden Temple in Amritsar, he had said Mann would remain the CM.
"Who are these? Former journalists, a former smuggler, a former gangster, a former drug addict. They are acting (in social media space) as experts. They can say anything for views. But they do not speak against the BJP as they are scared of the Enforcement Directorate," Mann said, asking people to avoid these "Facebook experts".
He also asserted that there was no factionalism in the party.
Replying to a question on central ministers visiting flood-hit areas, he alleged that they were coming for a "photo-op" only.
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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.
