Congress slams PM Modi’s tribute to RSS chief Bhagwat as “desperate bid” to please Sangh
New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s article praising Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on his 75th birthday, calling it a “desperate bid” to curry favour with the Sangh leadership.
In a column published across newspapers, Modi lauded Bhagwat for his “intellectual depth and empathetic leadership,” saying his tenure since 2009 marked the “most transformative period” in the RSS’s 100-year journey. The Prime Minister also described Bhagwat as a living example of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, dedicating his life to “societal transformation and harmony.”
Reacting sharply, Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said, “The Prime Minister, in his desperate bid to curry favour with the RSS leadership, has written an over-the-top tribute to Mohan Bhagwat.”
Ramesh further accused Modi of selective recall of historic events. “The PM has remembered Swami Vivekananda’s 1893 Chicago address and the September 11, 2001, terror attacks in the US. But, not surprisingly, he ignored that on September 11, 1906, Mahatma Gandhi first gave the call for satyagraha in Johannesburg, when the world first heard of this revolutionary idea,” he said.
Taking a dig at Modi, Ramesh added, “Of course, it is too much to expect the PM to remember the origin of satyagraha since the very word satya is alien to him. The PM, who himself claimed to be ‘non-biological,’ makes his pravachans appear as if they are God-se.”
The Congress remarks came as the RSS celebrated Bhagwat’s 75th birthday on Thursday.
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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.
