Billboards, banners welcoming PM to Manipur put up in Imphal
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Imphal (PTI): Several billboards and banners welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Manipur were put up in the state's capital Imphal on Friday.
Over two years after the ethnic violence broke out in Manipur, the PM is scheduled to visit the state on Saturday and unveil projects valued at Rs 8,500 crore, officials said.
A large gate, measuring more than 20 feet in length, with "Welcome Shri Narendra Modi ji" written on it, was erected near the BJP state headquarters.
The gate was set up on the route through which the prime minister is expected to pass on Saturday to reach Kangla Fort from Imphal airport.
Billboards informing the laying of foundation stones for projects worth Rs 7,300 crore and the inauguration of projects worth Rs 1,200 crore were also set up in Sanjenthong and in an area near the Nupi Lan complex.
Modi is expected to address a public gathering at Kangla Fort.
Along the 7-km route from Imphal airport to Kangla Fort, temporary wooden barricades have been set up by the side of the pavements.
Workers have been engaged in cleaning activities and repainting road medians ahead of the prime minister's visit.
Opposition parties have been criticising the prime minister for not visiting the northeastern state, where clashes between Kuki and Meitei communities have left over 260 people dead and thousands homeless since May 2023.
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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.
