Indian-origin man stabbed to death in UK
London (PTI): A 38-year-old Indian-origin man has been stabbed to death in London, just two days after shocking incidents of knife attacks in the UK which saw the deaths of a British Indian teen and a student from Hyderabad.
Aravind Sasikumar was found with knife injuries on June 16 after officers were called to a residential property on Southampton Way, Camberwell, the Metropolitan Police said.
He died at the scene at 1.31 am on Friday, the police said in a statement.
On Saturday, June 17, Salman Salim, 25 of Southampton Way, was charged with murder, they said.
He appeared at Croydon Magistrates' Court on the same day and was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on June 20.
Sasikumar's family have been informed and continue to be supported by detectives from the Met's Specialist Crime Command, the Evening Standard newspaper reported on Sunday.
A post-mortem examination carried out on Friday confirmed Sasikumar died as a result of stab wounds to the chest, the report added.
A police spokesman said: "On arrival, officers located a man, aged in his 30s, suffering from stab injuries.
"Despite treatment from medical professionals, the man sadly died at the scene.
"His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers."
A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We sent numerous resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, medics in two fast response cars, an advanced paramedic and an incident response officer.
"We also dispatched a trauma team from London's Air Ambulance, which consisted of a paramedic and a doctor in a car.
"Sadly, despite the best efforts of our crews, a man was pronounced dead at the scene."
Harriet Harman, the MP for Camberwell and Peckham, described the death as a "horrific murder" and passed on her "deepest sympathy to the bereaved family".
Friday's incident adds to the recent string of knife attacks across the UK, which saw the deaths of British Indian teen Grace O'Malley Kumar, 19 and 27-year-old Tejaswini Kontham from Hyderabad in two separate incidents.
On June 14, Kontham was stabbed to death at a residential property in Neeld Crescent, Wembley in north London. Two men have been arrested in connection with the murder.
In a separate incident on the same day, Kumar was killed in a knife attack as she walked back from a night out with fellow cricket-loving friend Barnaby Webber, 19.
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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.
