Former Kerala minister M A Kuttappan no more
Kochi (PTI): Senior Congress leader and former minister M A Kuttappan died at a private hospital here following an illness on Tuesday night, party sources said. He was 76.
Kuttappan is survived by his wife and two children.
A multiple-time MLA, Kuttappan had served as minister for Welfare of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes in the A K Antony ministry in 2001.
During his long political career, he also served as a general secretary and executive committee member of the KPCC, a senate member of the Calicut University, and Railway Recruitment Board member.
Hailing from Mallappally in Pathanamthitta district, Kuttappan was an MBBS graduate and a practising medical doctor.
He quit his medical profession to embark on a career in politics after being attracted to the principles of the Congress.
After joining the party in 1978, he represented Wandoor, Chelakkara and Njarakkal constituencies in the state Assembly during various years.
He withdrew from active politics some years ago due to health reasons, Congress sources added.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly V D Satheesan was among those who condoled the senior politician's death.
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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.
