BJP candidate Madhavi Latha asks burqa-clad women to lift veil at voting booth, sparks controversy
Hyderabad: The Asaduddin Owaisi-led AIMIM has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India after a video surfaced showing BJP's Lok Sabha candidate for Hyderabad, K Madhavi Latha, allegedly checking the identity documents of burqa-clad women at a polling booth and asking them to lift their veil.
Latha and Owaisi are contesting against each other in Hyderabad, with Owaisi having won the seat by a significant margin in the last Lok Sabha elections.
Following her own voting at Amrita Vidyalaya, Latha visited several polling booths and stopped at one in Azampur, where she reportedly began checking IDs of women waiting to vote. In the video, she is seen requesting a burqa-clad woman to lift her veil, which the woman complies with.
Latha also instructed polling officials to ensure proper checking of ID cards before allowing voting, citing discrepancies in the voter list and missing names of several voters.
This isn't the first time Latha has courted controversy. Earlier, on April 17, a video allegedly showed her symbolically shooting an arrow towards a mosque during a Sri Rama Navami rally. She later apologized, stating the video was incomplete.
As the recent video went viral on social media, Latha responded, stating, "It has come to my notice that one video of mine is being circulated in the media to create negativity. I would like to clarify that it is an incomplete view, and even if anyone's sentiments are hurt because of such a video, I would like to apologize as I respect all individuals."
The video did not go well with the netizens as they criticised the Election Commission for their inaction .
“What's happening here? Who is she to verify the voters? She is not authorized to check and verify the identity of the voters. Only the presiding officers can do that.
@ECISVEEP, are you still sleeping?”
“Who gave this joker an authority to verify the voters? Let the authorized officers do their job. Election commission, wake up.”
Who gave this joker an authority to verify the voters?
— Shoaib Mohammed (@shoaibpage) May 13, 2024
Let the authorized officers do their job. Election commission, wake up. https://t.co/wJnyK2BKvN
Another user tweeted :
“Who authorised her to verify voters?
Where is the administration ?
Hello @ECISVEEP what's your say on this?”
Who authorised her to verify voters❓
— Rishi Choudhary 🇮🇳 (@RishiRahar) May 13, 2024
Where is the administration ❓
Hello @ECISVEEP what's your say on this❓
Later a case was registered at the Malakpet Police Station under sections 171C, 186, 505(1)(c) of IPC and Section 132 of the Representation of the People Act.
A case is registered in Malakpet Police Station against Smt Madhavi Latha, Contesting candidate, BJP under sections 171C, 186, 505(1)(c) of IPC and Section 132 of the Representation of the People Act
— Collector Hyderabad (@Collector_HYD) May 13, 2024
In Telangana, brisk voting was reported for the 17 Lok Sabha constituencies, with high turnout in areas like Adilabad, Zahirabad, Khammam, Mahabubabad, and Nalgonda, while lagging in Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
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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.
