New Delhi, April 27: Senior lawyer Indu Malhotra was sworn in on Friday as Supreme Court judge, amid raging controversy over the Narendra Modi government returning recommendation on Justice K.M. Joseph.
She was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice Dipak Misra. She will have a tenure of a little over three years.
With her swearing in the strength of the top court judges rose to 25 -- six still short of the actual sanctioned strength of 31.
It is for the first time that the apex court has two women judges -- the other being Justice R. Banumathi. Justice Malhotra is the fifth woman judge of the top court.
Justice Fatima Bibi was the first woman judge of the Supreme Court. She was followed by Justice Ruma Pal, Justice Gyan Sudha Misra and Justice Banumathi.
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Mass protests erupt across Israel after Defence Minister Yoav Gallant’s dismissal
Tel Aviv: A wave of mass protests swept Israel on Tuesday evening following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's dismissal of Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. The announcement was met with thousands of protesters taking to the streets in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, expressing anger over Gallant’s removal amid the ongoing attacks by Israel on Palestine.
Netanyahu stated that the trust between him and Gallant had eroded, asserting, “In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and defence minister.” Gallant, however, has been advocating for a temporary diplomatic deal, suggesting that military efforts have laid the groundwork for negotiations to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, a stance differing from Netanyahu’s call for sustained military pressure.
Gallant outlined his differences with Netanyahu, highlighting the need to end military draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men, the urgency of a hostage deal, and the establishment of an inquiry commission to investigate the political and security lapses surrounding the October 7 attack by Hamas.
Protests intensified following the announcement, with demonstrators blocking Tel Aviv’s main highway, waving Israeli flags, and lighting bonfires. Similar scenes unfolded outside Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem, where police presence escalated, and reports of scuffles emerged as protesters clashed with authorities.
Political leaders across the spectrum expressed shock at the decision, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog remarking that Gallant’s dismissal was “the last thing Israel needs” in this period of conflict.
